Day: November 1, 2022

ABU DHABI, Emirates News Agency (WAM) is launching a campaign to highlight the importance of tolerance and mutual acceptance in multicultural societies. The campaign includes a series of news stories and interviews showcasing the various manifestations of tolerance in the UAE.

The campaign comprises, in addition to this series, a tolerance charter in which a large number of news agencies from around the world would commit themselves to cover issues of tolerance prominently in their news operations. The campaign will culminate in a special session on the role of the media in building tolerant societies at the Global Media Congress (GMC), which will be held from 15th-17th November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The series on tolerance will begin appearing on WAM tomorrow, November 2. In the below article, Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the Global Media Congress, explains the vital significance of the campaign and its social relevance in today’s world.

Following is the full text of Al Rayssi’s Op-Ed on the occasion.

The International Day of Tolerance will be observed across the world on November 16, 2022. The day coincides with the Global Media Congress, in which a special session on the role of the media in building tolerant societies will be held. We at WAM had been deliberating on what we could do to create awareness about the importance of tolerance. When we internally discussed it, the idea for this campaign emerged. We will publish a series of human-interest stories and interviews in the next couple of weeks, highlighting the multiple manifestations of tolerance and acceptance in the UAE.

Not that the subject is not widely covered in the media, locally and internationally. During the past few years, the media in the UAE and abroad published several fascinating stories about the tolerant culture of the UAE. The visit of the Pope to Abu Dhabi in 2019, the Document on Human Fraternity, The Abrahamic Family House, the announcement of the building of the grand Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, the recent opening of another Hindu temple in Dubai – these were some of the occasions on which the media showered ample attention on the pluralistic ethos that marked the UAE out as an oasis of harmony and humanism.

When we thought through this campaign, we also felt the need to engage with other news outlets in various countries on the subject. We reached out to dozens of news agencies from around the world and suggested we all need to work collaboratively in order to play a vital role in making our countries and societies more tolerant and accepting of diversity. The result was far beyond our expectation.

A large number of news agencies gladly came forward to sign the ‘tolerance charter’ that we had proposed. The charter was a solemn declaration of willingness and commitment on each signatory’s part to promote tolerance through news stories, interviews, documentaries and so on. Many of them have also agreed to begin paying special attention to this topic right away in their news operations. We were overjoyed. In a world increasingly riven by fissiparous, narrow, and violent ideologies and religious extremism, we believed that the media could definitely play a redemptive role. Instead of always assigning newsiness to stories of hate and division, why can we not turn our journalistic attention to beautiful tales of how multitudes of creeds, cultures and worldviews not only thrive and coexist, but also enrich and bolster each other?

WAM readers will see a host of stories from the UAE, which illustrate the lovely manifestations of harmony and togetherness in the UAE. We are doing this not for patting ourselves on the back, but to bring home the cardinal fact that only harmonious, peaceful and tolerance societies can achieve stability and prosperity. If people representing 200 nationalities chose the UAE as their home (sometimes people say second home, but considering that they spend much of their lifetime here, it is indeed their first and foremost home!), there must be something that pulls them towards this country. The name of that attraction is simple: a culture of harmony and tolerance.

WAM is immensely pleased to present to our readers fascinating stories of harmony and togetherness in the next two weeks. Please honor this space with all the attention it deserves!

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The third edition of Dubai Ride, presented by DP World, is set to take place on 6th November 2022 as one of the flagship events of Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC).

The largest community cycling event in the Emirate will offer families, recreational cyclists and cycling enthusiasts the opportunity to ride past Dubai’s iconic landmarks on Sheikh Zayed Road and Downtown Dubai, including Museum of the Future, Dubai Water Canal and Burj Khalifa.

Participants looking for fun or fitness can choose between two routes: the 12km Sheikh Zayed Road route or the 4km Downtown Family route through Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard.

The flat route is suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities – starting at 5:00 at Dubai Mall and following Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard around the Dubai Opera and Burj Khalifa.

The advanced route is suitable for more experienced cyclists and includes changes in elevation – it starts at 5:00 from five different starting gates located at the Museum of the Future, Al Satwa, Coca-Cola Arena, Business Bay, and Lower Financial Centre Road.

Registration is free for both routes. Participants can sign up on the website for their chosen routes and starting location, and will receive a QR code which they will need to present to collect their bib from any of the 3 distribution points at conveniently located malls across Dubai: City Centre Deira, Dubai Hills Mall, and Ibn Battuta Mall.

Bib collection is open this week, from 3rd to 5th November, during normal mall opening hours.

Participants must collect their bib from one of the malls, as cyclists without a bib will not be able to take part. Participants are also required to bring their own bike, helmet, and water bottle on the day.

Last year, 33,000 cyclists took part in Dubai Ride and came together as one community to demonstrate their commitment to the annual city-wide challenge, and their 30×30 goals as they embraced an active lifestyle.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, As part of its keenness to provide premium services to its customers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) has announced the activation of electronic linkage and integration for the airport entry permits issuance service it provides to representative missions accredited to the UAE, in cooperation with Dubai Airports.

The integration was implemented within the framework of the strategic steps towards government digital transformation and designing joint services across government entities, which contribute to saving time and effort and enhancing the customers’ journey.

This initiative embodies partnership frameworks between the federal and local entities and reflects system integration, which enhances digital transformation initiatives in the UAE and moves from the service digitisation phase to the comprehensive customer journey design phase through all stages of implementation across all entities.

The initiative aims to best serve customers and offers a unique experience seldom found at the international level, where the UAE has ranked among the world’s top countries in the digital life indexes in 2022.

Cutting-edge technologies were used in the field of integrated systems on both sides and according to the highest standards of information security. The electronic linkage system was designed to facilitate data transfer immediately and seamlessly while allowing for follow-up on applications’ updates at every transaction stage.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum, the Director of MoFAIC’s Dubai Office, has praised the efforts made and the constructive cooperation among the joint task forces which acted as one to achieve the digital integration of the systems operating at both entities, as well as the outcomes of the initiative which contributes to scaling up the indexes of the digital government and smart cities.

For his part, Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, said, “This agreement comes within the framework of the cooperative approach we adopt at Dubai Airports to support all government entities within the UAE, and as a part of our ongoing endeavours to play a pivotal role in supporting digital transformation in the UAE. We are pleased to work hand in hand with MoFAIC towards providing premium services in accordance with the highest international standards and optimising a compressive experience across all service delivery points at Dubai Airports.”

MoFAIC is committed to achieving integration and cooperation with various government entities in the UAE to improve the performance and level of the services provided, as it works on enhancing the customer’s experience to ensure streamlined and easy access and swift procedures.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Municipality (DM) kicked off the 16th edition of its annual Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC) today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Hosted under the theme ‘Future Directions in Food Safety and Security,’ the three-day conference will discuss strategies to maintain high food safety and security standards, including deploying innovative technologies to strengthen the supply chain.

More than 3,000 global experts in food issues and over 60 speakers comprising specialists, academics, and scientific research entities are attending the event. The conference, which will last until 3 November 2022, has in attendance several international organisations in the food sector worldwide.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, “Through integrated efforts, relevant government agencies have worked for decades to achieve the highest levels of food safety, maintain public health, strengthen the UAE’s status as a leading international centre for food trade, and increase consumer confidence. These efforts focus on policies, legislation, and regulations to supply and circulate safe and high-quality food products while facilitating free trade to ensure future generations’ welfare.”

Almheiri added, “The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in collaboration with its partners, has stepped up efforts to improve food security and safety as well as supply chain sustainability and continuity. Along with strengthening the food safety system and educating the public on its methods and needs, the ministry has worked on three primary fronts: boosting domestic production, launching partnerships with exporting nations, and streamlining border crossings.”

Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, said, “The DIFSC affirms Dubai’s status as a leader in food security and positions the strategic issue as a priority that receives constant attention from our wise leadership.”

“One of the most significant factors in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), food safety and security are a top priority for Dubai, and we are making conscious efforts to achieve the highest levels of food safety. Dubai Municipality is committed to ensuring sustainable food systems, further enhancing the quality of life and well-being of society and improving the levels and indicators of safety and health,” Al Hajri explained.

He added, “The conference’s theme, ‘‘Future Directions in Food Safety and Security,’ is based on various regional and global studies on changes in the food sector, necessitating discussions on strategies and initiatives to ensure strong frameworks for food safety and security. Further, the latest technological innovation and best practices in implementing food policies are vital to achieving regional and global food security.”

Global Objectives

The 16th edition of the DIFSC addresses trends critical to achieving food safety across supply chains, including the latest technologies, such as AI, Big Data and Metaverse, to devise sustainable solutions and develop global food systems. Discussions will highlight the necessity to maintain high standards in food safety in line with national, regional and international food security strategies. It will also address various methods to optimally utilise technical innovations in the sector to achieve food sustainability.

Specialised Seminars and Workshops

The conference will include seminars and interactive panel discussions highlighting the latest technologies and their role in data-based decision-making and spreading awareness of Metaverse and its applications in the food sector. It will facilitate the exchange of expertise on the food industry and food safety culture while highlighting the best practices in implementing food policies.

The conference will also promote the concept of “One Health,” an integrated approach towards achieving sustainable balance, enhancing society wellness, and preserving the ecosystem. Experts will also address the monitoring of chemical contaminants and their risks, highlighting the maximum limit for pesticide residues in food.

DM Platform

DM will highlight its food safety initiatives, including the Metaverse programme for food safety, which aims to empower suppliers at food establishments to operate using best practices through the Metaverse. DM will also showcase FoodWatch, an advanced digital platform for food safety and nutrition, reflecting its commitment to securing Dubai’s leading position as the world’s happiest, healthiest, and most sustainable city. The Municipality will also showcase the Food Smart Inspection System, which assesses food safety compliance levels in food safety provisions and standards at food establishments.

Food Testing Agreement

DM signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), Canada, on Day 1 of the conference. Both parties agreed to promote mutual understanding and adopt best practices that contribute to establishing a scientific database for food testing. Both parties will collaborate to establish a research centre for food sciences at the Dubai Central Laboratory, sharing knowledge and providing training to empower workers in food laboratories.

The Green Channel Initiative

On the sidelines of the conference, DM will launch the Green Channel Initiative, facilitating the flow of imported food products to local markets via various access points in the emirate. Before imports, a thorough review of electronic import applications will also be conducted based on the provisions and standards of imported products, country of origin, and standards of import companies.

Source: Emirates News Agency