Day: November 21, 2021

DUBAI, H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, said the UAE and Oman share strong brotherly ties under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.M. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman. The deep relationship between the two countries has resulted in a wide range of collaboration in various spheres, he noted.

His Highness also highlighted the UAE’s keenness to celebrate Oman’s National Day, which reflects the strong bonds and common vision for the future shared by the two nations.

His Highness’s remarks came as he welcomed The Royal Navy of Oman’s ship Shabab Oman II as it docked at Dubai Harbour as part of its journey to GCC countries. The ship’s visit is also part of the celebrations of the 51st National Day of Oman organised by the Omani Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The event was attended by H.H. Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Relations and International Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of the Sultan of Oman; HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee; and a number of senior officials.

Shabab Oman II will be anchored in the UAE for 10 days, as part of Oman’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai. The current tour of the navy ship which entered service in 2014, is the fifth in the ship’s history. The ship features an exhibition displaying items that have significance in Oman’s history.

Shabab Oman II will also represent Oman at the pavilion of GCC states at Dubai Expo 2020. The bands of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) and the RAO’s Sultan of Oman’s Armoured Division will stage musical performances.

The 28-day tour of the ship includes an academic programme for participants from different countries of the world and a stationary exhibition held onboard. The exhibition will highlight Oman’s maritime and naval history, as well as military bands.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, 21st November 2021: Under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council, the Government of Dubai has extended the five-year exemption given earlier to Emirati members of Dubai SME from paying licence fees as applicable under Article No. (10) of Law No. (23) of 2009, to seven years.

The decision is part of a series of initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and their startups to fully tide over the challenges brought by the global outbreak of COVID-19 and focus on their growth without cash flow concerns.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed lauded the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in continuing to create new opportunities as well as in positioning the UAE as a resilient economy and global hub for entrepreneurial innovations. “Creating an exceptionally competitive and flexible landscape for SMEs is an integral element of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise the city’s status as a global hub for entrepreneurial innovation, while also consolidating our rich entrepreneurial traditions into a catalyst for economic diversification and sustainable economic growth,” His Highness added.

Under Article No. (10) of Law No. (23) 2009, the licensing fee applicable on SMEs was AED 1,000 for the first three years from the issuance of the licence, and AED 2,000 for the fourth and fifth years. The five-year exemption granted earlier contributed to reducing financial burdens faced by startups, which in turn enabled them to continue playing an active role in economic development in Dubai and the UAE.

Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Director General of the Department of Finance, Government of Dubai, remarked that the extended exemption granted to SMEs will go a long way in revitalising the overall economic movement in Dubai. “In light of our leadership’s directives, Dubai has already announced five stimulus packages worth AED7.1 billion in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the outcomes have been phenomenal in terms of the emirate resuming full-scale economic activity while also enhancing its business competitiveness and investment attractiveness.”

“Further easing the financial burden on SMEs is no less important as it will support this critical majority of local businesses in avoiding accumulation of financial obligations, and at the same time using their cash reserves to move forward and contributing to Dubai’s strategic growth plans,” Al Saleh said.

“The major factor that set Dubai apart globally in managing the pandemic efficiently was the swift action taken by our strong and decisive leadership and government. As a city aiming to be future-ready and the best place in the world to live, work and visit, strengthening economic resilience and supporting businesses of all sizes to sustain growth will remain a top priority for Dubai,” stated Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy & Tourism.

“Emirati entrepreneurs should be particularly supported and motivated since they are critical to ensuring the sustainability of the labour market and building a competitive national cadre, a key target emphasised once again by the leadership in the ‘Projects of the 50.’ The fee exemption will help SMEs in Dubai focus on asserting their demonstrated role in pioneering innovations across sectors, especially in advanced technology, healthcare and vital services,” added Al Marri.

The Department of Finance, in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council and Dubai SME, has launched a series initiatives for small and medium-sized companies since 2018, which included allocating 20% ??of government purchases for Dubai SME members and special dealings with regard to primary and final insurance as well as accelerating payment of corporate dues, in addition to other benefits granted by Law No. 12 of 2020 on Contracts and Warehouse management in Dubai Government.

In Dubai, SMEs constitute nearly 95% of all companies, employing 42% of all workforce in the emirate and contributing to around 40% of Dubai’s GDP.

Extending the fee exemption follows a series of incentives and assistance offered by Dubai SME under the directive of the government to ensure business continuity during the pandemic phase and the subsequent precautionary measures adopted. The latest exemption will particularly bring relief to SMEs that were not able to take advantage of the incentives and assistance due to the restrictions on business activity during the last two years.

Since 2002, Dubai SME has supported 10,803 member SMEs with incentives and relief measures worth over AED995 million. The extension of fee exemption granted now applies to registered members of Dubai SME who have not completed the five-year period stipulated in Article No. (10) of Law No. (23) 2009. New members are not eligible for the extension.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The 23rd edition of Intersec will be staged in Dubai on 16-18 January,2022, under the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ Intersec 2022 aims to build on the success they had in 2020 with an elevated new programme uniting global and regional leaders as they explore solutions for the rapidly evolving challenges facing the industry. In addition to the exhibition and the conference, visitors will see Cybersecurity and technology take centre stage, along with some of the world’s best speakers in the UAE for the first time.

The first industry gathering of 2022 aims to bring the entire ecosystem of emergency services, security and safety together at one time.

Intersec’s innovation and technology focus will include its Cyber Lab offering a vital platform for knowledge. Organiser Messe Frankfurt has worked closely with industry stakeholders, from both the private and public sector, to develop an event that reflects both their current and future needs that offers attendees bespoke platforms to gain expert insight on future capacity and capabilities.

Christine Davidson, Intersec’s Group Exhibition Director, said: “There has never been such an intense focus as there is today on the security and safety industry which has been at the frontline of protecting the world’s communities over the last 18 months during this time of significant global disruption. Having invested heavily to deliver an outstanding program that will address the sector’s most vital issues and opportunities, Intersec 2022 brings the industry together at this crucial juncture to share knowledge from recent experiences and look to the future with the event’s most powerful series of conferences including multiple platforms for strategic G2G, G2B and B2B discussions and deep dive sessions into key sector verticals.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

Dubai, A high-level delegation of ministers and industry leaders from the United Arab Emirates are confirmed to participate at the fourth edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2021), which will be held from November 22-27 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at EXPO 2020, reflecting the country’s commitment of building an advanced manufacturing sector underpinned by advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions.

Co-chaired by the UAE Ministry of Industry Advanced Technology and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, #GMIS2021 will convene over 45 UAE policymakers and industry leaders, alongside over 250 international speakers, to engage in 70 sessions from November 22-27. Under the theme, ‘Rewiring Societies: Repurposing Digitalisation for Prosperity’, discussions at the Summit will explore how data and connectivity are becoming the leading factors shaping the future of supply chains, green manufacturing, sustainable energy, climate action, policymaking, and resilient global economies.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and LI Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in their capacity as co-chairs of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, will give keynote addresses at the opening ceremony on the first day of the Summit.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala, will conduct a one-on-one fireside chat titled ‘Investing in the leading edge of innovation’ moderated by John Defterios, former CNN anchor.

Other Ministers from the UAE participating during the first two days of the Summit including Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, who will be a panellist on a session titled ‘Digital mobility: Work from home to work from anywhere’, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, as well as Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade. H.E Mohamed Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development will also address a global audience.

Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of State for Youth will introduce and open the Global Prosperity Conference, while Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), will deliver a keynote titled ‘Springboard to Prosperity’, and Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency will offer insights on a panel related to Society 5.0.

On November 24, Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, will conduct a fireside chat at the Green Chain conference.

Other senior policymakers joining the panel will include Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, and Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE, and Eng. Saed Al Awadi, CEO of Dubai Industries and Exports.

The UAE policymakers will be joined by leading industry leaders and experts who will share their insights and engage in keynote addresses and panel discussions during the Summit, including Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the UAE’s Roads and Transport Authority, and Eng. Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Energy.

Also participating is Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, Mohamed Al Hammadi, MD and CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), while Ahmed Al Shamsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, will participate at a session run by the Global Prosperity Conference.

With special emphasis on the Summit’s host country, a dedicated session will explore how the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, ‘Operation 300bn’, aims to transform the nation into a diversified, industrial economy over the next 30 years. The National Strategy stems from an integrated vision of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to develop the UAE industrial sector and establish the UAE as a global hub for future industries. Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of Emirates Steel; Abdaullah Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry Growth Sector at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Abdulnasser bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium; Khaleefa Yousef Al Mheiri, Acting CEO of TA’ZIZ; Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, CEO of Emirates Development Bank; and Saud Abu Al-Shawareb, Managing Director of Dubai Industrial City; will join the discussion on ways to safeguard public health, advance sustainable economic growth, deploy clean energy solutions, drive industrial innovation, and promote responsible consumption and production.

Etihad Rail CEO, Shadi Malak, said: “As digitalisation continues to radically change the mindset and operating models for manufacturers and operators, the future of the industry should focus planning for the future via innovations driven by public and private partnerships. Organisations are increasingly looking towards the implementation of new technologies like the Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics to drive growth, transparency , and trust. As such, private and public sectors alike must capitalise on this opportunity that GMIS is presenting to drive advancements across all aspects of society.”

Thought leaders from across government, industry, and academia will gather at #GMIS2021 over two days to engage in discussions and debates focusing on critical topics related to the manufacturing sector, including Quantum Machine Learning (QML), big data analytics, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), digital twins, smart factories, powering the blue economy, digital mobility, as well as data intelligence and the digitalisation of the energy sector.

Other UAE delegates from the private sector include Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of UAE Investments at Mubadala; Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, CEO and Vice Chairman of Dubai Cares; Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company LNG; Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO of Strata; Mansoor Janahi, Deputy Group CEO of Sanad; Jasim Husain Thabet, Group CEO and Managing Director of TAQA. Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42; Prof. Eric Xing, President of the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI); Mohammed Al Mudharreb, CEO, Corporate Technology Support Services, RTA; Abdulaziz Al Jaziri, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Future Foundation; Mubaraka Ibrahim, Acting Chief Information Officer at Emirates Health Service; Tariq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of the Spectrum Management Affairs Department at the Telecommunications and Digital Regulatory Authority; Khalifa Al Shamsi, Group Chief Strategy and Corporate Governance Office at Etisalat; Salman Dawood Abdulla, Executive Vice President of Emirates Global Aluminium; Dr. Faye Al Hersh, Technology Specialist of Masdar; Khalid Al-Muhaidib, SVP Hydrogen Business, ADNOC Badr Al-Olama, Head of the GMIS Organising Committee, said “Since its launch in Abu Dhabi in 2017, GMIS has served as a unique platform for global policymakers and industry experts to transmit their vision and insights, in the hopes of shaping a better future for all. As countries emerge from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m proud to see so many Ministers from the UAE come together to contribute and share their experiences with the rest of the world”

#GMIS2021 is being held during the six-day GMIS Week which will take place from November 22-27 at EXPO’s Dubai Exhibition Centre, featuring over 250 global speakers. The GMIS Week will include a Global Prosperity Conference and the Green Chain Conference – an Alternative & Renewable Energy Conference – on November 24 and country-focused conferences in partnership with the United Kingdom, Australia, and Italy on November 24 & 25. The event will also run a six-day manufacturing and advanced technology exhibition to showcase some of the UAE’s most innovative capabilities.

Source: Emirates News Agency