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Burmese grapes from Assam exported to Dubai

North-Eastern states are becoming part of the agricultural and processed food products export map…reports Asian Lite News

In a major boost to harness the export potential of agricultural and processed food products from north-eastern states, a shipment of fresh Burmese grapes referred as ‘Leteku’ in Assamese language has been exported to Dubai from Guwahati by air route.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, a consignment of Leteku, which contains vitamin C and Iron, was sourced and packed at a collection center in Darang district of Assam.

The consignment was exported by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) registered Kiega EXIM Pvt. Ltd from Guwahati airport to Dubai via Delhi.

APEDA has been carrying out promotional activities to bring the North-Eastern states on the agricultural and processed food products export map of India.

Recently, APEDA facilitated exports of the first consignment of ‘red rice’ to the USA from Assam. Iron rich ‘red rice’ is grown in Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer. The rice variety is referred to as ‘Bao-dhaan’, which is an integral part of Assamese food.

Ripe fruits of Burmese grapes(WIKIPEDIA)


APEDA assisted in exports of Geographical Indications (GI) certified KajiNemu (Assam lemon) to London. So far around 40 metric tonnes of Assam Lemon has been exported.

Jackfruits sourced from the Tripura based Krishi Sahyog Agro Producer Company Ltd was exported to London.

APEDA has provided financial assistance to the private sector to set up a pack house at Guwahati which has fulfilled the mandatory requirement or infrastructure for export of fresh fruits and vegetables to Europe.

The organization undertakes market promotion activities for evolving structured marketing strategies for export of food products, market intelligence for taking informed decisions, international exposure, skill development, capacity building and high-quality packaging.

“APEDA would continue to focus on the north eastern region both in terms of capacity building, quality upgradation, and infrastructure development. Linking buyers to farmers, strengthening the entire supply chain of agricultural produce from the north-eastern region would bring in dividends,” the Commerce ministry said in a statement. (INN)

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-Top News Dubai UAE News

Dubai court appoints experts to oversee Arabtec’s liquidation

Arabtec Holding PJSC(Wikipedia)

The decision was taken after the court appointed a panel to analyse the bankruptcy application….reports Asian Lite News

Arabtec Holding’s bankruptcy plea has been accepted by a Dubai court. The construction company behind iconic structures such as the Burj Khalifa and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, had submitted a petition to the court, following the company’s former group CEO Wail Farsakh’s resignation in February 2021.

The decision was taken after the court appointed a panel comprising seven experts to analyse the bankruptcy application.

In a statement to Dubai Financial Market (DFM) on Monday, the company said that the court has appointed a trustee for each entity, to publish the bankruptcy decision of each one, review its debts, deposit a list and a record of its creditors and “conduct all the procedures stipulated under the Bankruptcy Law within 35 days from the date of the appointment notification”, reported Arabian Business.

@DubaiCourts

Arabtec Holding’s subsidiaries include – Arabtec Construction, Austrian Arabian Readymix Concrete Co. LLC, Arabtec Precast LLC, Arabtec Constructions LLC and Emirates Falcon Electromechanical Co. (EFECO LLC).

While on December 17, the company, which was valued at about AED30 billion ($8.17bn) at its peak in 2014, said it and some of its subsidiaries had filed for insolvent liquidation pursuant to the resolutions of its shareholders on September 30 and November 30.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 26 to follow up on the procedures taken by the trustees.

Arabtec shareholders had authorised the board of the Dubai-listed construction company to file for liquidation in September 2020. This was due to its untenable financial position following the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

ALSO READ: Dubai records real estate deals worth AED11.11 bn in May

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Dubai Technology UAE News

Dubai firm uses solar power to make water out of air

The new technology uses solar energy to power a fan that draws in air, which then goes through a sponge-like material where water molecules are absorbed….reports Asian Lite News

A Dubai-based company is using solar energy to produce water out of air. Source Global, which was established in Dubai in 2017, recently introduced sun-powered hydro-panels to make clean drinking water.

It is aiming to get 75 percent of its energy use from clean sources by 2050, CNN reported.

“These hydro panels are effectively producing high quality drinking water day in, day out without requiring any infrastructure, any power or any type of grid,” the company’s Vice President Vahid Fotuhi told CNN in an interview.

The new technology uses solar energy to power a fan that draws in air, which then goes through a sponge-like material where water molecules are absorbed.

Source Global, which operates in 48 countries, chose Dubai to develop its biggest water farm because of the emirate’s keenness to invest in innovation, Fotuhi said.

“First of all, the fact that it is a hub for the Middle East Africa region, it also is a center for new innovations for key sectors, such as agriculture and water,” he explained.

Technologies that turn air into water are not new, but Fotuhi said they want to make it more sustainable by adopting a clean energy strategy.

Experts said the challenge with these technologies is distribution, but Source Global thinks getting people on board harder.

People here are accustomed to a staple solution for water generation and what we’re proposing is kind of diversified menu effectively,” he said. “As with most disruptive technologies, initially people are hesitant to change.”

ALSO READ: Dubai records real estate deals worth AED11.11 bn in May

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-Top News Dubai UAE News

Dubai records real estate deals worth AED11.11 bn in May

A total of 20,989 real estate sale transactions were recorded from January to May worth AED 47.19 billion…reports Asian Lite News

The number of real estate transactions in the Emirate of Dubai in May 2021 reached 4,429, the highest total sales transaction values since March 2017 in excess of AED11.11 billion, with a growth of 1.4 percent compared to last April.

A total of 20,989 real estate sale transactions were recorded from January to May worth AED 47.19 billion, according to Mo’asher, Dubai’s official sales price index.

It added that Dubai’s real estate market has achieved a new record, the highest over the past four years in terms of the value of real estate sales transactions, thus highlighting the emirate’s attractiveness and flexibility in attracting real estate investments, and emphasising Dubai as one of the best global real estate destinations and the most capable of adapting to various conditions and global developments.

The 15th edition of price index, launched by Dubai Land Department (DLD), in cooperation with Property Finder, shows that May 2021 had the highest total sales transaction values since March 2017 in excess of AED11.11 billion, with a growth 1.4 percent compared to last April.

The base year for Mo’asher is 2012 and the base month for the monthly index is January 2012. In May 2021, the overall monthly Index recorded 1.071 and an index price of AED 1,007,529, the apartments monthly Index recorded 1.085 and an index price of AED 904,476 and the villas/townhouses monthly Index recorded 0.993 and an index price of AED 1,773,164.

The total number of sales transactions grow by 215 percent and the total value of sales transactions by 357 percent since May 2020. To break this down, the off-plan market sales transactions volume grew by 74 percent since last year, and the secondary market, which has been in high demand since the pandemic started, has grown by over 466 percent .

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In May 2021, 62 percent of all transactions were for secondary/ready properties in May 2021 and 38 percent were for off-plan properties. In addition, 77 percent of sales transactions were for apartments and 23 percent were for villa/townhouses. When we look at the volume of transactions, the off-plan market transacted 1,674 properties worth AED 2.58 billion and the secondary market transacted 2,755 properties worth AED 8.53 billion.

In the villas/townhouses sector, 10.1 percent of all sales in May 2021 took place in Mohammed bin Rashid City, followed by Dubailand (7.6 percent), Dubai Hills Estate (7.4 percent), Arabian Ranches 3 (6.5 percent) and Town Square (6.4 percent). Looking at apartments, 10.8 percent of all sales transactions took place in Jumeirah Lake Towers, followed by Dubai Marina (9.2 percent), Jumeirah Village Circle (8.6 percent), DownTown Dubai (7.4 percent), and Business Bay (5.7 percent) according to data from Property Finder.

According to proprietary Property Finder demand data, the top areas of interest in terms of searches for villas/townhouses in May 2021 were Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches, Palm Jumeirah, Damac Hills, and Mohamed bin Rashid City. As for apartments for the same period, the top areas of interest were Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

ALSO READ: Dubai-based Indian homeopath receives Golden Visa

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Dubai India News

Dubai-based Indian homeopath receives Golden Visa

He is the current National secretary of International affairs of an India-based homeopathic association called IHMA of which many doctors are practicing in UAE, Muscat and Bahrain…reports Asian Lite News.

Dr Subair PK homeopathic general physician became the first Golden Visa holder in UAE in the field of homeopathy.
Expresses his gratitude to the UAE government, Dr Subair said the move shows the government’s commitment to healthcare of residents of different nationalities and continuous support to all medical systems and encouraging various professionals who are contributing their best for the development and achievements of the country .

Dr Subair is the managing director and practicing homeopathic physician at Al Fida Medical Centre Dubai which is established in 2004. He was one among the first batch Homeopathic doctors started practicing in the UAE.

Hailing from Kerala’s Thrissur district, Dr Subair graduated from the Govt Homeopathic College, Kozhikode and post graduated from the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy, Greece.

After starting his practice in various hospital and clinics in Kerala for 10 years he relocated to the UAE in 2003.

He is the current National secretary of International affairs of an India-based homeopathic association called IHMA of which many doctors are practicing in UAE, Muscat and Bahrain.

In 2019, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) implemented a new system for long-term residence visas, thereby enabling foreigners to live, work and study in the UAE without the need of a national sponsor and with 100 per cent ownership of their business.

The 2019 amendment was brought about in a bid to attract new foreign residents, particularly to the emirate of Dubai, following the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Interested individuals, who would like to apply for the Golden Visa, may do so through the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship — ICA (the eChannel for residency and citizenship), or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) which works under the ministry. While ICA offers only online channels, GDRFA offers both online and offline channels.

The process is quite straightforward with candidates required to submit the necessary documents and be willing to relocate to the UAE in accordance with their business venture.

Besides entrepreneurs, individuals with specialised talent can also apply for the visa. They include doctors, researchers, scientists, investors and artists. These individuals may be granted a 10-year visa following accreditations granted by their respective departments and fields and the visa will also be extended to their spouses and children.

Doctors and specialists must meet at least two of the following conditions: a PhD degree from one of the top 500 universities in the world, an award or certificates of appreciation in the field of the applicant’s work, contribution to a major scientific research in the respective field of work, published articles or scientific books in distinguished publications in the respective field of work, membership in an organisation related to the field, a PhD degree, in addition to 10 years of professional experience in his field or specialisation in areas of priority to the UAE.

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Dubai UAE News

600MW clean energy to bolster Dubai’s energy mix

The move will increase DEWA’s total power capacity from clean energy to 1,613 MW compared to 1,013 MW currently….reports Asian Lite News

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has announced that the authority will add 600 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity using photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) during 2021.

The move will increase DEWA’s total power capacity from clean energy to 1,613 MW compared to 1,013 MW currently.

Al Tayer said that next July, DEWA will commission the 300MW first stage of the 5th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. DEWA will commission the world’s tallest CSP tower at 262.44 metres with a capacity of 100MW in September and 200MW from the parabolic trough as part of the 4th phase of the solar park by the end of 2021. Therefore, DEWA will add 300MW from solar photovoltaic panels and 300MW from CSP. Clean capacity in Dubai’s energy mix will reach around 10 percent in July and 12 percent by the end of the year.

“At DEWA, our strategy and work plans are to promote sustainability, innovation, and the shift towards a green sustainable economy. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is one of DEWA’s key projects to achieve this vision and increase the share of clean and renewable energy capacity in Dubai’s energy mix. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer emphasised that DEWA’s major projects in cooperation with the private sector, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, contribute to the economic growth of the Emirate. Through this model, DEWA received the lowest solar energy prices (Levelised Cost of Energy) globally five consecutive times, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar power prices. DEWA has attracted investments of around AED40 billion from the IPP model.

Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, explained that the 4th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site investment project that combines CSP and photovoltaic technology using the IPP model. It is rated for 950MW with investments up to AED16 billion. This phase is characterised by the largest thermal energy storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, which allows for energy production round the clock.

DEWA received the lowest global bid of US$1.6953 cents per kilowatt hour for the 900MW fifth phase using the latest solar photovoltaic bifacial technologies, with Single Axis Tracking to increase energy production.

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Dubai UAE News

Dubai Chamber wins 2021 US Green Building Council Award

The Chamber was presented with the award during a virtual ceremony hosted by USGBC….reports Asian Lite News

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently added another award to its list of achievements by winning the 2021 US Green Building Council (USGBC) Middle East Leadership Award.

The Chamber was presented with the award during a virtual ceremony hosted by USGBC. The award recognised the Chamber for its outstanding efforts in creating healthier and more sustainable buildings and communities.

Dubai Chamber’s headquarters is a prime example of one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly buildings in the Middle East. The Chamber has achieved LEED Platinum certification three times over the last 15 years, which is a testament to its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Hamad Buamim, President & CEO, Dubai Chamber, said, “Dubai Chamber is honoured to be named a 2021 USGBC Regional Leadership Award recipient by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This achievement reaffirms the Chamber’s commitment towards sustainability and being a role model for the business community.”

He explained that the Chamber’s headquarters building is one of the first buildings in the region to certify under LEED EB O+M followed by LEED Platinum re-certification over the years. He also noted that the campus of the University of Dubai, an initiative of Dubai Chamber, achieved LEED Gold certification for New Construction and LEED Platinum certification for Existing Building Operations and Management following the completion of a solar project. The university is currently pursuing LEED Zero certification.

Buamim noted that the newly constructed Dubai Chamber extension building has been designed in line with LEED Building Design & Construction standards at the Platinum level. The Chamber is currently pursuing LEED ARC Parksmart accreditations. The building will use Solar PV systems and wind turbines to generate its power.

“Following a difficult year, it is truly inspiring to recognise our green building leaders that have continued their commitment to green building and sustainable communities while adapting to the changing environments around us,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, President and CEO, USGBC. “The 2021 USGBC Leadership Award awardees have improved our world through the power of green building and it is their contributions and work that have helped our communities stay safe and healthy.”

The 2021 USGBC Leadership Award recipients represent some of the best of USGBC’s 10,000 member organisations, a network of committed professionals with more than 106,000 LEED commercial projects in more than 180 countries and territories around the world. The efforts of the awardees stand out as exceptional examples of sustainability leadership among a strong and growing network of projects, companies and individuals.

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Business Dubai

Dubai businesses urged to provide Beneficial Owner data

The legal representatives of a registered business in Dubai can visit the eServices page of Dubai Economy or the outsourced service centres to furnish the Beneficial Owner data required….reports Asian Lite News

Dubai Economy has called on all business owners in the emirate to provide their Beneficial Owner data to be added in the commercial registry as required by the UAE Cabinet.

The legal representatives of a registered business in Dubai can visit the eServices page of Dubai Economy or the outsourced service centres to furnish the Beneficial Owner data required.

‘Beneficial Owner’ refers to those individuals/entities that benefit from owning a registered business. The Cabinet Decision No. (58) of 2020 requires all registered businesses in the UAE to reveal the identity and furnish details of their Beneficial Owner to be included in the commercial registry as part of enhancing corporate compliance in the country in line with international best practices.

The Beneficial Owner data required include name, gender, passport, nationality, residence address and email. All registered businesses in Dubai must register their Beneficial Owner data irrespective of their category (e.g. Commercial, Professional or Industrial) or legal form.

The customers can visit outsourced service centres of Dubai Economy and request to register the Beneficial Owner data upon which they will receive an electronic link to the procedure via text message. The customer can then click on the link and complete the procedure in a few simple steps. Alternatively, customers can log in to
https://ded.ae/service_details/en/beneficial_owner and then click on the Add / Modify the Beneficial Owner button. The customer will then be transferred to another screen to enter the Beneficial Owner data of the licence.

The deadline for registering the Beneficial Owner data is 15 June 2021.

Any customer performing a business registration and licensing transaction at Dubai Economy is automatically alerted on the Beneficial Owner data via text message before a payment voucher for the transaction is issued.

The customer can then click on the link provided in the text message and enter the Beneficial Owner data required. Business owners requesting Auto Renewal of their licences via text message to ‘6969’ also receive the link to the Beneficial Owner registration.

For enquiries and information on the Beneficial Owner registration, customers can email Dubai Economy on info@dubaided.gov.ae or call +971 4 445 5555.

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Dubai Travel UAE News

DXB is world’s busiest international airport in May

It kicked out London Heathrow from the top spot, with the UK airport plummeting to seventh place at capacity of 747,420…reports Asian Lite News

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been named the world’s busiest international airport in May, as travelers gradually return to the skies.

The airport’s scheduled capacity was 1,895,866 in May, according to aviation intelligence firm OAG, despite many of its source markets being closed to international travelers.

It kicked out London Heathrow from the top spot, with the UK airport plummeting to seventh place at capacity of 747,420.

Two other regional airports dominated the list, with Istanbul Ataturk coming in second at around 1.3 million capacity, followed by Doha International Airport at 1.24 million.

The rankings are based on scheduled capacity compared to the same month in 2019, pre-pandemic.

Four Middle East air routes were the busiest in May, according to OAG data, three of which connect Cairo to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai.

Within Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah-Riyadh route was one of the busiest in May with 547,936 capacity.

Last year, DXB handled 25.9 million passengers, despite the Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in the aviation industry, forcing airports to shut down and grounding airlines across the globe.

The travel restrictions and suspension of flights from certain countries also impacted airports and airlines.

The new variants of Covid-19 also continue to batter the sector with travel bans on passengers from the worst-hit countries.

But governments are increasingly reopening their borders with those countries that have largely vaccinated their citizens.

Data from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority showed international passenger traffic reaching 7.61 million during the first four months of 2021, including 1.87 million during the month of April.

The numbers are significantly higher when compared with last year’s April figures of 39,794 passengers, when international flights from Dubai airports were suspended after the Covid-19 outbreak.

OAG data showed Turkey’s Istanbul International Airport emerged as the second busiest airport with 1.3 million seats, followed by Doha Airport at 1.22 million, and Amsterdam Airport at one million.

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Asia News Dubai UAE News

Cathay Pacific extends Dubai-Hong Kong services

Cathay-Pacific-Airways-has-launched-a-new-WhatsApp-chat-support-service

The first resumed flight was positively received by customers and airline bagged an overwhelming response for cargo with a full load on the flight…reports Asian Lite News

Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific announced the continuation of its recently relaunched flights between Dubai and its hub, Hong Kong, following its first flight which took off on 21 May 2021.

The weekly flight, operated by an Airbus A330-300, will continue to follow the same schedule as May, providing UAE residents and visitors with convenient connections to Hong Kong and onwards across Cathay Pacific’s network.

The first resumed flight was positively received by customers and airline bagged an overwhelming response for cargo with a full load on the flight.

“On announcing the resumption of our passenger services from Dubai, we received a favourable response from the passengers and trade partners,” said Vishnu Rajendran, Area Manager – Middle East, Cathay Pacific.

“Not only was it humbling to welcome back our guests as we took to the skies again, but also extremely encouraging as we look to scale up our global network operations,” he added.

In a further boost for travellers, Cathay Pacific has also launched a new WhatsApp chat support service to provide passengers with quick and convenient solutions to queries through the messaging app.

Customers in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, can now use Cathay Pacific’s verified WhatsApp account to make new bookings, amend or upgrade existing bookings, seek assistance on baggage queries, redeem Asia Miles, and more – all via a single chat platform.

The chat support feature is available in English seven days a week from 08:00am to 08:00pm (GMT). Customers can use the service by messaging Cathay Pacific’s WhatsApp business number, +852 2747 2747, which can also be found on cathaypacific.com.

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