Day: December 5, 2022

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Auckland Airport. This is the first time the Emirates double-decker has landed in Auckland since February 2020, demonstrating increasing travel demand in and out of New Zealand.

The special non-stop daily service from Dubai to Auckland was greeted at Auckland Airport ahead of the country’s first fully open summer since the pandemic.

Emirates flight EK448 takes off from Dubai International Airport at 10:05 and lands in Auckland at 11:05 local time. The flight has reclaimed the title of Emirates’ longest route on its network, clocking in 14,200 km, with an estimated flight time of just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand and 17 hours, 15 minutes in the other direction. This makes it one of the world’s longest non-stop scheduled commercial flights.

The latest update to its services will offer customers greater levels of flexibility and choice when making travel plans and provide seamless connectivity and reduced transit time when travelling to other destinations in its global network, including destinations in Europe and the Middle East.

Emirates’ A380 is deployed to 37 global destinations in 25 countries, increasing to 42 cities by March 2023.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, today opened the 43rd edition of the Big 5, the largest and most influential construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Ahmed said that major international events held in Dubai such as the Big 5 play a major role in boosting growth opportunities in their respective industries locally, regionally and globally.

“With the remarkable success of Expo 2020, which featured more than 190 nations and attracted 24 million visitors, Dubai has grown in stature as a leading venue for global events,” he added.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed highlighted the role of the Big 5 exhibition in bringing together various stakeholders to address the challenges facing the construction industry and explore ways to make the world’s cities environmentally friendly. “The event supports the UAE’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and the growth of the circular economy in the region and beyond.”

He also noted the Big 5 has emerged as a global platform for major companies, institutions, and investors in the construction, building and facilities management sectors to discuss how they can shape a new future for the industry.

More than 2,000 participants from 60 countries are taking part in the event this week, which hosts 20 national pavilions. The event is set to attract over 55,000 attendees.

The opening of the four-day event was also attended by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; Dawoud Al Hajri, Director-General, Dubai Municipality; Butti Saeed Al Kindi, Second Deputy Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre; and Khalifa Zaffin, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed started his tour of the event by visiting the Greek pavilion where he was welcomed by Antonis Alexandridis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to the UAE.

At the Italian pavilion, Sheikh Ahmed was welcomed by Giuseppe Finocchiaro, Consul-General of Italy in Dubai.

He also visited the German and Saudi pavilions, and the stands of Gulf Extrusions and Dubai Municipality.

Taking place from 5th-8th December, 2022, the annual Big 5 show features six specialised events addressing the entire industry ecosystem – the Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo.

Running alongside the Big 5 this week is the inaugural Everything Architecture, the only exclusive event for the architecture and design community in the Middle East.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, In line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE Falcons Federation, and coinciding with the UAE celebrating its 51st National Day, Dubai is ready to host the inaugural Etihad Cup for Falcons Races in the Farkh category.

Organised by the UAE Falcons Federation in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center, the Cup will be held during 7-14 December 2022 on Dubai’s Al Ruwayyah fields. The total prize money for the first edition of the Cup exceeds AED1.5 million, with AED768,000 for the qualifying rounds and AED750,000 for the top three winners.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed recently directed the Federation to organise the Etihad Cup to support the sport of falcons and its history linked to the heritage of the UAE and the region in general. This in confirmation with the directives of the wise leadership of UAE in this regard, and in line with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to develop falcons racing and promote it across generations.

The Etihad Cup races will be held over a distance of 400 metres in three categories (Sheikhs, Public Open, and Public Owners), with five competitions divided into three rounds each. The competition will include Jeer Shaheen (Farkh), Jeer Teba (Farkh), Pure Jeer (Farkh), and Qarmousha (Farkh). The championship will consist of 15 main rounds, with four rounds for each category of Sheikhs, Public Open and Public Owners, and three rounds of the Final Cup with one round for each of the categories.

Rashid Mubarak Bin Markhan, Secretary General of the UAE Falcons Federation, said that the launch of the UAE Falcons Federation Cup coincided with the UAE’s 51st National Day celebrations and reflected the sport’s popularity and the extent of the people’s love for this heritage sport. The Organising Committee, headed by Demithan Sweidan Al-Qamzi, has completed all arrangements for hosting the prestigious event, including logistical and technical details.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The first review meeting for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award applications was held by the Board of Trustees of the ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award’ to ensure that all requirements and criteria were met.

The announcement and honouring of the award winners during the celebration, which will take place in Dubai on December 6, 2022 at the Hilton Al Habtoor Hotel, Al Habtoor City Dubai, Al Joud Hall, is the culmination of the last step of sorting nominations.

On December 6 and 7, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, will host the Knowledge Youth Forum events as part of the celebration. Held at the Award’s headquarters in Dubai, the meeting was chaired by Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF.

The trustees considered the shortlist of people and organisations that, in accordance with the advisory committee’s recommendations, met the requirements for the award and contributed significantly to advancing the global production and dissemination of knowledge. The trustees developed an ultimate shortlist of applicants.

The discussion also focused on the organisational components of the prize and emphasised its accomplishments in previous years, since it has been garnering much attention and admiration in the worldwide knowledge scene due to its role in fostering knowledge innovation.

Jamal bin Huwaireb reaffirmed the honourable standing that the award has attained among the international honours given to knowledge pioneers whose inventiveness and contributions to knowledge have had a strikingly good influence on the lives of people.

He also commended the broad involvement in the award and the widespread attendance of the world’s most illustrious figures and organisations engaged in business, production, and information dissemination.

He added: “Inspired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Maktoum Knowledge Award establishes a knowledge economy and constructs advanced and sustainable societies that can keep up with the demands of the future. It strives to establish creativity and innovation and improve pathways for the transmission, dissemination, and development of information around the world. In order to pick the winners in the final stage and announce the winners, the Board of Trustees of the Award is eager to thoroughly review the applications for candidacy and examine the knowledge offerings of the candidates from individuals and institutions during this stage. The felicitation ceremony is scheduled to be held on December 6, 2022.”

Initiated in 2014, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award recognises the world’s knowledge pioneers and highlights their most notable accomplishments and contributions in a variety of academic disciplines. The prize is worth USD 1 million and covers a wide range of topics, including knowledge, innovation, leadership, and creativity, as well as the advancement of academic institutions and scientific research, as well as communication technology.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) announced that the Youth Knowledge Forum will feature several panel discussions and youth circles, as well as a preliminary session for the Arab gathering of young leaders and a session to announce the recipients of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award.

MBRF is organising in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council. The event will be held in person on December 6 and 7, and then virtually on December 8 and 9, 2022.

Additionally, the forum will also organise a session on Global Knowledge Index and highlight its most notable results, as well as analyse its role in promoting knowledge. Through the forum, MBRF will also emphasise the significance of the partnership with UNDP in fostering knowledge and development in the Arab region and around the world.

The four-day event aims to highlight several knowledge accomplishments worldwide to foster excellence and creativity among the younger generation.

The forum serves as a platform that encourages the younger generation to embrace challenges in order to achieve and increase their aspirations. It seeks to empower youth to be more creative and innovative, as well as actively playing a part in disseminating knowledge around the world.

Additionally, the forum will include a session to honour the winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, which is awarded annually to global figures and institutions who have made significant contributions to the field of knowledge.

UNDP says the Youth Knowledge Forum involves two main pillars crucial to any development journey, knowledge and youth, which are of greater relevance to the UNDP. Through this event, we aim to underline the significance of investing in knowledge to deal with various global challenges and build a brighter future. We believe that the youth is an important component for knowledge-based development and empowering them would aid in the creation of a prosperous future.

Source: Emirates News Agency