Day: December 14, 2022

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Hamdan bin Mohammed approves new plan for developing model residential neighbourhoods for citizens in Dubai

DUBAI, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, presided over a meeting of the Higher Committee for Development & Citizens Affairs in Dubai and approved its new plan for developing model residential neighbourhoods for citizens. The first phase of the plan, covers a total area of 177,712,000 sq. ft. in the residential areas of Al Mizhar 1, Al Khawaneej 2, and Al Barsha 2.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed highlighted the importance of providing the best possible environment, facilities and services to the citizens of Dubai in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said: “We constantly strive to raise the quality of life of citizens in Dubai and strengthen community bonds as part of our comprehensive human-centred urban development plan that aims to build sustainable future cities.”

H.H. directed the Committee’s teams to develop plans and initiatives to support economic development activities in residential neighbourhoods that will enable citizens to launch their own projects.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Higher Committee for Development & Citizens Affairs in Dubai and Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General for the Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being Pillar and the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The Crown Prince approved plans and designs for residential developments in Al Mizhar 1, Al Khawaneej 2, and Al Barsha 2. Each development will have its own distinctive character and identity. The design of the Al Mizhar 1 development was inspired by the Ghaf tree, while the design of the Al Khawaneej 2 development was inspired by water and the Al Barsha 2 development by sand dunes. Gardens and squares in the residential neighbourhoods will provide facilities for sports and recreational activities.

The three model residential neighbourhoods will cover an area of approximately 177,712,000 sq. ft. (57,048,000 sq. ft. in Al Barsha 2; 72,871,000 sq. ft. in Al Mizhar 1; and 47,791,000 sq. ft. in Al Khawaneej 2). The model neighbourhoods offer investment and business opportunities for citizens residing in the area through restaurants, open markets, shops, halls and sports facilities.

Chaired by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Higher Committee for Development & Citizens Affairs aims to create comprehensive plans for developing residential neighbourhoods for citizens in Dubai and raising their quality of life, in cooperation with the public, semi-government and private sectors.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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DGHR, SAP Collaborate to Develop Emirati Talent

DUBAI, A cohort of 30 Emirati university graduates has passed a rigorous selection process to embark on a training course that will set them up for long-term career success in the fast-paced world of cloud computing, thanks to a collaborative initiative between the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) and global technology company SAP.

The training initiative was inspired by discussions at a meeting earlier this year between H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, and SAP’s global CEO Christian Klein.

At this meeting, the importance of developing young Emirati talent was raised, ultimately leading to the launch of an SAP Young Professionals Programme tailored for recently graduated Emiratis from multiple entities including the Dubai Health Authority, Roads & Transport Authority, Al-Futtaim Group, Dubai Customs and Emirates Group.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of DGHR, and several officials in Dubai government departments.

On the sidelines of an event, Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of DGHR stressed keenness of the prudent leadership to acquire professionally qualified Emirati cadres in various sectors to enhance their contribution to achieving the economic progress of the UAE and to strengthen its competitiveness globally.

“The DGHR collaborates with the government departments in Dubai to enhance capabilities of citizens in cloud computing, in order to have a new generation of talented local competencies characterised by competitiveness, flexibility and diversity of professional expertise,” Al Falasi added.

He also said that the DGHR cooperates with the prominent universities, colleges and global companies in training the Emiratis to foster their capabilities and strengthen their skills, especially new skills that are in high demand in the field of digital transformation to establish a knowledge-based economy and prepare a skilled generation of Emirati in various fields of business, aligning with vision of the leadership.

Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, hailed the initiative that would contribute to achieving professional success in the growing field of cloud computing, expressing his happiness with the participation of Dubai Customs in the initiative through the talented citizens of its staff.

Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi, CEO of Corporate Shared Support Services Sector at DHA, underlined the great interest of the DHA in training and qualifying the Emirati cadres, reinforcing their knowledge, and empowering them with the innovative technologies to keep pace with the growing development and global transformations towards digitisation.

Al Nuaimi also praised the cooperative initiative between the DGHR and SAP, highlighting its role in graduating and qualifying Emirati cadres in cloud computing, in order to harness and optimize the advanced technologies to the utmost

In the meantime, Yousef Al Redha, CEO of Corporate Administrative Support Services Sector at RTA said, “The RTA is committed to developing the Emiratis and strengthening their skills and capabilities, especially the digital skills that keep pace with Dubai’s aspirations, so that they can create the future of development and growth, as well as consolidating the position of Dubai and the UAE in general.”

“This programme contributes to raising the standards of digital management in state institutions, leading innovation and digital transformation sustainably, serving the strategic goals of the Authority, and supporting the development process in transportation and infrastructure projects,” he added.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, said, “Congratulations to the first batch of Emirati talent to graduate from the Dubai Government Human Resources Department and SAP collaborative training course. We look forward to their continued contributions towards multiple sectors, including in the technology industry. The Emirates Group’s commitment to developing Emirati talent stems from the directives of our Chairman and Chief Executive, H.H . Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Over the years, with his support, we have embarked on many initiatives and partnerships as well as providing career development programmes to help our people harness their full potential, and today’s graduation is another milestone in our ongoing efforts.”

This intensive two-month course for the Emirati cohort represents the 16th iteration of the SAP Young Professionals Program to be held in the UAE.

The training in the DGHR-focused programme will comprise certification courses in SAP Analytics Cloud and RISE with SAP (SAP S/4HANA Cloud Implementation with SAP Activate), SAP’s enterprise resource planning solution. The comprehensive development plan created by SAP aims to provide a solid foundation of excellence backed by certification to launch students’ careers. Participants graduate from the program as SAP Associate Consultants, enabling immediate employment by SAP customers and partners.

Mira Omar Al-Futtaim, Chairperson of the Al Futtaim Emiratization Council at Al Futtaim Group, congratulated the graduates of program, saying, “We are pleased with the participation of five of our Emirati employees in SAP cloud computing that was held in cooperation between the DGHR and SAP, who were selected to participate in the program after passing a rigorous selection process.

Also attending the student-welcoming event, Zakaria Haltout, Managing Director at SAP UAE, commented, “As the UAE continues to pursue its ambitious digital transformation goals, it is focused on creating a highly skilled workforce to ensure a sustainable and successful digital economy. These Emirati graduates will help to elevate digital management standards in the UAE and become tomorrow’s leaders in innovation and the nation’s further development. We hope that this programme marks the beginning of an impactful partnership with Dubai Government Human Resources Department and that it will serve as a sterling example of the benefits of public-private partnerships

More than 3,750 top students trained across 41 countries, including over 250 from the UAE, have graduated from the SAP Young Professionals Programme since it was launched in 2012.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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World’s first international Digital Economy Court unveils new specialised rules, global judicial expertise

DUBAI, The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts today announced the launch of a new set of industry-first specialised Rules for its recently formed Digital Economy Court (DEC) Division.

In addition, leading international judicial expertise has been recruited to oversee and operate the new Court’s cutting-edge digital infrastructure and service capabilities. Under Decree No. 29 of 2022, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has appointed Justice Michael Black of England & Wales, who will oversee the Digital Economy Court Division.

Following the announcement of the dedicated Division in 2021, a global panel of lawyers, led by Tom Montagu-Smith KC and Matthew Watson of 3VB Chambers, and industry experts, were tasked to draft and confirm new specialised Rules, which were also subject to a 30-day public consultation and finalised under the supervision of Justice Michael Black.

Reviewed and approved by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and President of the DIFC, the new ‘Part 58’ of the DIFC Courts Rules will facilitate the efficient and modern resolution of digital economy disputes, standardising the use of smart forms to provide information through a dynamic, artificial intelligence driven platform. In line with the Courts’ paperless mandate, cases will also be conducted using advanced digital systems to expedite service to parties and enforcement, with a view to reducing the environmental impact of court proceedings.

In 2021, the DIFC Courts established the Digital Economy Court Division to oversee sophisticated national and transnational disputes related to current and emerging technologies across areas ranging from big data, blockchain, AI, fintech, and cloud services, to disputes also involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 3D printing, and robotics.

Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director, DIFC Courts, said: “The DIFC Courts has continued its trajectory to provide Dubai, the UAE, and the world, with a suite of dispute resolution services that truly break through the barrier of traditional public court services. Businesses that can adapt to embrace the future digital economy will do so with the knowledge that there is a sophisticated yet efficient venue to support and protect the continuity of business projects.

With the digital economy fast emerging as a prime accelerant of global business, these specialised Rules have been engineered to strengthen our mission of building a courts system that not only absorbs current dispute resolution needs but can flex to address and resolve new emerging disputes. This strategy has been further reinforced by ensuring we blend leading judicial expertise with innovative technological implementations.”

In 2022, the DIFC Courts issued a judgment in the case of (1) Gate Mena DMCC (2) Huobi Mena FZE v (1) Tabarak Investment Capital Limited (2) Christian Thurner which related to one of the first cryptocurrency litigation disputes in the region and one of the few reported cases anywhere in the world which addresses issues such as the safe transfer of cryptocurrency between buyer and seller and the obligations owed by a custodian of cryptocurrency. This case gave rise to various other interesting questions such as the nature of Bitcoins, i.e., whether cryptocurrencies are considered commodities, currencies, properties, or something entirely different, and the appropriate time to value Bitcoins.

From November 26 – 27, the DIFC Courts held a virtual Moot Court, inviting 18 teams of international law students and 25 qualified judges to hold a two-day competition to test-proof the new DEC Rules across a dispute involving cryptocurrency.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE to host the world’s largest GPRC summit

DUBAI, GPRC Summit 2023 will host discussions on Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), integrated with performance and strategy.

GPRC Summit 2023, organised by Ejtemaat Events and hosted by Corporater – a global software company that enables organisations worldwide to manage their business with integrated GPRC (Governance, Performance, Risk and Compliance) solutions – will bring together GRC experts, CEOs, senior-level executives, and key decision makers from across industries to discuss technology, insights, and key trends shaping the future of enterprise management. This invitation-only event will take place on 23 January in Riyadh, KSA, and on 25 January 2023 in Dubai, UAE.

As the world’s largest gathering on governance, risk and compliance (GRC) integrated with performance and strategy, the Summit will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and roundtable discussions offering insights centred around the theme ‘GPRC – The Future of Effective Enterprise Management for Government and Business Organisations’.

At the Summit, world-renowned GRC and strategy experts and C-level executives will share their insights on the latest trends in enterprise business management, GRC-related challenges facing today’s top organisations, and solutions that enable organisations to improve their performance in achieving key priorities.

The event will be a high-octane networking platform for C-level executives, senior directors, and key decision-makers from over 100 regional companies spanning government and private organisations from various industries. International experts and keynote speakers.

Businesses and corporations face fast-evolving risk environments and digital transformation every day, while more and more customers and employees are looking for companies that align with their values. According to research, over 75% of organisations acknowledge that siloed technology systems pose a risk management challenge, while only 35 percent take enterprise-level action to address the issue.

The event will look at the current drivers and trends impacting governance, risk and compliance (GRC) and how organisations must focus on agility, resilience, integrity, and accountability in managing risks.

Announcing the GPRC Summit, Tor Inge Vasshus, Founder and CEO of Corporater, said, “Business risks evolve very quickly, often they are external, such as third-party vendors, supply chains, regulatory issues, privacy concerns, cyberattacks, environmental regulations, and sometimes they are internal, such as operational, financial and other challenges. These issues are usually interrelated risks that require comprehensive solutions. The need for a holistic approach to GRC has never been more critical to organisations.”

He added: “As the business environment changes, companies need to evolve their GPRC strategies to maintain a comprehensive view of interconnected risks, understand the financial implications and make more informed decisions at all levels.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE President, VP congratulate King of Bahrain on accession to throne

ABU DHABI, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, on the 23rd anniversary of his accession to the throne.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, sent a similar message to King Hamad on the occasion.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Dubai’s clean energy transition gathers pace with innovative initiatives

Dubai, Dubai last month announced a roadmap to make its public transport emission-free by 2050, taking its ambitious strategy to transition to the green economy another step closer to reality. Featuring infrastructure, circular economy and green mobility initiatives, the implementation of the roadmap will bring AED3 billion worth of savings and eliminate 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of planting 132 million trees, over the next three decades.

The roadmap forms part of a series of initiatives driving the emirate’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 that aim to generate 100 percent of Dubai’s total energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Already one of the world’s leading cities in clean power infrastructure, Dubai is moving rapidly to achieve this target.

Green economy hub

Dubai has set its sights on becoming a green economy hub with a five-pronged strategy focused on infrastructure, legislation, funding, capacity building and creating an environment-friendly energy mix.

Dubai’s plans are aligned with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, which aim to significantly replace traditional energy production with renewable resources. Next year, the UAE will play host to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), more commonly known as COP28. The conference, to be held in Dubai Expo City, will provide both the UAE and Dubai an opportunity to showcase their unique clean energy projects and achievements in reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

DEWA’s mega infrastructure projects

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is leading the charge to create a diverse infrastructure base for Dubai’s green energy transition. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, is set to produce some of the most cost-effective clean electricity on the planet. On completion in 2030, the AED50 billion Park will have 5,000 MW production capacity. The fifth phase of the project, currently being built, will be fully commissioned in 2023. It is adequate to serve more than 270,000 homes, eliminating 1.1 million tonnes (MT) of annual carbon emissions. Upon the Solar Park’s completion, it will reduce more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The Solar Park will build on DEWA’s current power generation assets, which include the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex, a key pillar of Dubai’s clean energy infrastructure aimed at meeting the needs of its growing daytime population estimated to expand to 7.8 million people by 2040. The Complex is the world’s largest single-site natural gas power generation facility and the largest single-site water desalination plant.

Another project powering the emirate’s clean energy transition is DEWA’s Green Hydrogen Project, which has been built in cooperation with Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens Energy at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park over an area of 10,000 square metres. The first initiative that uses solar power to produce hydrogen in the Middle East and North Africa region, the project is key to the UAE’s aim to acquire 25 percent of the global green hydrogen market by 2030. A high-value export commodity, green hydrogen, dubbed by many as the fuel of the future, has a variety of uses including power generation, transportation, feedstock for the chemical industry, reducing agent for the steel industry, and gas for residential heating and cooking.

Green Ammonia

In yet another major green energy project announced last month, Dubai’s leading oil and gas player ENOC Group signed an agreement with Japanese heavy-industry manufacturer IHI Corporation to establish a first-of-its-kind manufacturing unit for green ammonia, often dubbed as a ‘fuel of the future’. The produced fuel will be exported to Japan and supplied within the UAE and the region. Produced by combining green hydrogen and nitrogen at high temperatures and pressures, green ammonia can help reduce global carbon emissions and be used within the transportation, power generation and industrial sectors.

Complementing these projects is the pumped-storage hydroelectric power station that is being built by DEWA in Hatta, which will have a production capacity of 250 megawatts (MW), and a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours. The first station of its kind in the GCC region, the AED1.42 billion project is almost halfway through to completion.

Another unique project that adds to Dubai’s renewable energy mix is the Dubai Waste Management Centre (DWMC), the largest waste-to-energy project in the world, being built by Dubai Municipality. The facility, which will be fully operational in 2024, has the capacity to process 5,600 tonnes of solid waste per day, converting 45 percent of Dubai’s municipal waste into renewable energy, feeding the grid with 215 MWh of clean energy capacity.

Legislative framework

Underpinning Dubai’s clean energy transition plan is a regulatory framework designed to encourage the private sector, global investors and developers to participate in clean and renewable energy projects, using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. DEWA has attracted investments of around AED40 billion through this model, which encourages value-added partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Talent and innovation

Capacity building in the green economy is another vital pillar in the clean energy strategy. The emirate seeks to develop its pool of professional talent and industry expertise through various learning and training programmes conducted in cooperation with global institutions. It is also working with global organisations like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to develop the specialised capabilities needed to boost research, innovation and excellence in this field.

Leading by example, DEWA has created an R&D Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to offer a global platform for emerging sustainability technologies. The Centre aims to contribute to enhancing Dubai’s position as a global hub for R&D in solar power, smart grids, energy and water efficiency and capacity building. Projects launched at the R&D Centre include a pilot project for energy storage using Tesla’s lithium-ion battery solution. In July this year, the DEWA R&D Centre filed a patent for a redox flow battery stack with an improved electrolyte distribution that offers better battery performance and lower manufacturing costs.

The abundance of solar energy sources in Dubai, its massive infrastructure projects and the city’s emergence as a preferred destination for talent and expertise in the green energy sector, are set to make the emirate a global leader in transitioning to clean energy.

Source: Emirates News Agency