Day: May 26, 2021

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No place for traditional airports to operate without advanced, smart technologies: Security Industry Regulatory Agency CEO

DUBAI, There will be no place for traditional airports to operate without advanced and smart technologies in the future which stresses the absolute necessity for airports of the future to enhance security and facilities enabled with smart devices, said Major General Khalifa Ibrahim Al Saleis, Chief Executive Officer, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA).

Delivering the keynote speech on Future Technologies Enhancing Airport Security at the Global Airport Leaders Forum at the Dubai Airport Show 2021, he said Dubai airport sits in the first place in the world on the number of international travellers with 89.1 million travellers in 2019.

According to the Airport Council International, in the year 2018 there were 8.8 billion passengers at world airports. In 2040, the number is expected to increase to 19.7 billion. These large number of travellers means that travel procedures need to be simplified, while maintaining the safety and security at the airports and passengers.

“We all know that security emigration and health check procedures which make long hours of delay are necessary and cannot be avoided. Smart airports are the future of air travel because of the smart devices provided to reduce waiting queue, waiting time, reduction in queue for passport control, security check and at duty-free and other outlets.

“Smart counters resulted in reducing waiting time, waiting queues, waiting time for passport control, security check, and duty-free and other outlets. In 2018 and 2019 it was recorded that 78 per cent users of these services were economy class passengers, which helped avoid crowding and reduction in waiting time at the terminal. The use of smart phone application for travel procedure, such as printing boarding pass, advance ticket booking, reduced the waiting time at the airports achieved social distancing,” he said.

In 2018 and 2019, 40 per cent of Emirates airline passengers used online check-in service. Self-registration kiosks at the airports reduced human contacts that helped social distancing. It is estimated that these procedures reduced at least 30 per cent of time spent at airports.

The use of advance technology, smart-gate and smart tunnel, introduction of digital passport supported by biometric technology speed up the travel procedure.

The digitalisation of visa and certificates using blockchain technology and digital encryption makes it very difficult to tamper with the documents, especially when it is linked with biometric and fingerprint identification technology.

The use of smart-gate at Dubai airport reduced the time for completing travel procedures at the emigration and passport control to 15 seconds. The use of smart tunnel for passengers at Dubai airport led to reduction in time to 9 seconds without the need to stop at the emigration counters.

Personal research is considered one of the most difficult and time-consuming procedures at airports. However, technologically advanced devices are available now for personal search without human involvement, which will be one of the basic requirements for all smart airports in the future.

The advanced smart search devices are expected to handle over 900 passengers per hour. These will be deployed over the next few years. The use of special application for smartphones by travellers to complete the travel procedure also act as devices to know the location of the passengers.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Foreign assets up to AED392.4 bn by end of Q1’21: UAE Central Bank

ABU DHABI, The foreign assets held by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates increased to AED392.4 billion by the end of Q1’21, a QoQ grwoth of 1.1%, a CBUAE report shows.

The apex bank ascribed the growth mainly to AED85.9 billion quarterly increases in foreign securities and other foreign assets by 25.7% (AED 9.2 billion), overshadowing a reduction in current account balances and deposits with banks abroad by 26.1% (AED90.7 billion) From March 2020 to March 2021, Central Bank Foreign Assets increased by 0.4%, YoY, added the report.

With regards to the country’s twin bourses, the report said Abu Dhabi’s quarterly average Financial Market Index rose by 17% during the first quarter of 2021. The quarterly average Market Capitalisation of companies listed at the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) surged by AED101 billion reaching AED826.7 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2021. The Quarterly Traded Value also rose by 74.7% during the first quarter of 2021 reaching AED50.3 billion. However, on an annual basis, the Abu Dhabi Financial Market Index fell by 3.3%.

Dubai’s quarterly average Financial Market Index showed a growth of 9.2% during the first quarter of 2021. The quarterly average Market Capitalisation of companies listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) increased by AED25.2 billion reaching AED 353.9 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Quarterly Traded Value rose by 4.8% during the first quarter of 2021 reaching AED 15.4 billion. On an annual basis, the Dubai Financial Market Index decreased by 14.1%.

In the meantime, Money Supply M1, which comprises Currency in Circulation outside Banks (Currency Issued – Cash at banks) plus Monetary Deposits, increased by 7.1% QoQ during the first quarter of 2021. On an annual basis, there was a 18.4% YoY climb in the monetary aggregate M1, reaching AED642.3 billion at the end of March 2021.

Money Supply M2 (M1 plus Quasi Monetary Deposits (Resident Time and Savings Deposits in Dirham, plus Resident Deposits in Foreign Currencies)), also increased by 0.6% QoQ during the first quarter of 2021.

On an annual basis, there was a 2.2% YoY increase in Money Supply M2, reaching AED1,487.5 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2021. Money Supply M3 (M2 plus government deposits at banks and at the Central Bank) fell by 0.2% QoQ during the first quarter of 2021.

On an annual basis, there was a 3.1% YoY growth in Money Supply M3, reaching AED1,766.4 billion at the end of March 2021.

Typically, the money supply M2 is considered the best indicator for the availability of liquidity in the economy, as it comprises currency in circulation outside banks, in addition to various deposits of all the resident sectors in dirham denomination, except for the deposits of the government sector in the UAE.

Statistical data show that at the end of the first quarter of 2021, there was a QoQ increase in M2. The rise in M2 during the first quarter of 2021 was mainly due to a 0.6% quarterly increase in the non-government resident deposits standing at AED1,391.6 bn by the end of March 2021.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Preventive procedures implemented by UAE reflect post-coronavirus reality

ABU DHABI, The set of procedures implemented by the UAE during its hosting of several events this year and its future agenda for the Expo 2020 Dubai reflect its post-coronavirus (COVID-19) reality.

Despite the dire conditions witnessed by many regions around the world resulting from the pandemic, the UAE managed to draft a road to recovery, by implementing several steps that helped it identify how to return to normalcy in several sectors.

The UAE is currently witnessing the outcomes of its proactive plans, which include enlarging the scope of beneficiaries of its vaccination campaign. The country has now vaccinated 78.11 percent of those eligible to take the vaccine and has performed over 49 million coronavirus tests.

The health and organisational protocols enforced by the UAE covering the education, health, aviation and hotel sectors have earned the world’s confidence and ensured its ability to host major international events.

Its prominent tourism stature has also been a key factor that has made it a favourite destination for major events in various sectors.

The country has hosted many global sports, economic, cultural and artistic events while the flexibility of its visa and residence procedures has made it a preferred destination for many international celebrities.

In 2021, the UAE organised several leading events, including the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), the Gulfood exhibition, the UAE Tour and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.

The country’s international centres that specialise in hosting major events, such as the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and the Expo Sharjah Centre, play a key role in maintaining the country’s capacity to organise international events throughout the year.

Moreover, the UAE was ranked 11th globally and first in the Arab region in the Bloomberg index of the most resilient countries that managed the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, achieving 66.4 points in March 2021.The COVID-19 Resilience Ranking uses a wide range of data to capture where the pandemic is being handled most effectively, with the least social and economic disruption from mortality and testing rates to vaccine access and freedom of movement.

The UAE achieved this advanced rank due to the timely and strict procedures it adopted at the start of the pandemic, which efficiently countered the virus while minimally disrupting businesses and society. The death rate from the virus in the UAE is also among the lowest in the world.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Khalifa University celebrates the graduation of 885 students from Bachelor, Master and PhD Programs in Science, Engineering and Arts

ABU DHABI, Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Khalifa University of Science and Technology celebrated the graduation of 885 students from its Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs during the 2021 graduation ceremony, which was held virtually on Wednesday, 26th May, 2021.

During the ceremony, 51 students received their PhD degrees in biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, civil and infrastructure engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, robotics engineering and interdisciplinary engineering.

Another 168 students received their Master’s degrees in applied chemistry, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, computer and information science, electrical and computer engineering, engineering systems and management, information security, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, petroleum engineering, geo-petroleum engineering, sustainable critical infrastructure, international and civil security, health, safety and environmental engineering, and water and environmental engineering.

While 666 students received their Bachelor’s degrees in applied mathematics and statistics, petroleum engineering, industrial and systems engineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, communication engineering, aerospace engineering, and petroleum geosciences.

The graduation ceremony coincides with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country’s 50 years of progress and achievements.

In his address, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Khalifa University’s board of trustees, expressed great pride in the graduates’ outstanding achievements.

He extended his greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and to all Emiratis and residents in the UAE, on this significant occasion, which marks the entry of a new cadre of talented graduates – who are now equipped with the robust knowledge and skills gained at the internationally recognized Khalifa University – into the UAE’s key science, engineering, technology and medical sectors.

Sheikh Hamed also expressed his gratitude to the parents of the graduates for this achievement, as they provided unconditional support to the graduates during their studies.

He also congratulated the UAE’s leadership and people, while expressing his pride in the graduates’ and their achievements. He thanked them for their efforts, which will inspire current students of Khalifa University, and for all that they’ve done and will do in the future for the UAE.

He also noted the important role KU graduates have played and will continue to play in enhancing the UAE’s international standing as a leader in research and innovation. Khalifa University graduates contribute to the country’s vital sectors, bringing with them advanced knowledge, expertise, critical skills, and a unique ability to analyze and find creative solutions to the country’s greatest challenges.

Khalifa University has consistently contributed to the aerospace sector. It graduated the first-ever batch of students in Aerospace Engineering, while more recently Khalifa University students designed and developed MySAT-1 and DhabiSat, two mini satellites which were launched into space, and they are also helping students of other universities to design and develop CubeSats.

Khalifa University’s virtual 2021 graduation celebration comes at a time when the University has achieved several milestones, especially with the most number of scientists from the UAE being included in the exclusive Stanford University List of 2% Most Cited Scientists in their fields for 2019, with a total of 45 faculty members, representing 25 percent of all faculty from the UAE, as well as the Stanford University List of 2% Most Cited Career-long Scientists in their field of research for 2019, with 36 faculty members, representing 31.5 percent of all faculty from the UAE.

In global rankings, Khalifa University leapt 67 notches to be ranked 214th globally in the ‘Engineering and Technology’ category, top in the UAE and in six subjects, including Petroleum Engineering, in the most recent 2021 QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings by Subject. The University already ranks at #211 in the QS World University Rankings 2021, which features 1,029 of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Moreover, Khalifa University is ranked top in the UAE and 114th globally in ‘Engineering’ in the US News & World Report’s 2020 Best Global Universities’ rankings published in November 2019. The University is ranked second in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and among the top 200 globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 by Subject: Engineering and Technology.

Source: Emirates News Agency