Day: January 27, 2023

SHARJAH, The Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS), the region’s leading institute for education and training in finance, has announced that 24 Emirati professionals along with 14 Expatriates and Bahrain Nationals have completed its Leadership Development Programme (LDP), organised by the institute in collaboration with the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

The Development Programme, held in December 2022, was in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership to put Emiratis as the top priority in all government policy decisions.

A total of 38 leaders from the insurance and banking sector, including CEOs, directors, and department heads, joined the thought-provoking training program, which offered them an opportunity to gain a comprehensive and coordinated experience to develop into more effective and prominent leaders in their fields.

The LDP participants from the UAE were joined by 12 professionals from the Bahrain’s regulatory authority and financial institutions. The UAE participants included representatives from the Central Bank of the UAE, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Commercial Bank International, Daman Insurance, Emirates Islamic Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank.

Noura Alblooshi, Acting General Manager of EIBFS, said, “We are proud of our LDP graduates, and as EIBFS we aspire to upskill and develop future-ready executives in the UAE banking and financial sector through our cooperation with Said Business School at the University of Oxford. We do this by providing them with the knowledge and abilities they need to prosper, grow, and meet the changing market needs.

Reflecting on his interactive session with the LDP alumnus, Hamad Abdullah Al Mehyas, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Company – Daman, stated, “I am thrilled to have been one of the Emirati participants in the Leadership Development Programme, provided by the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies. As a board member of EIBFS, I am proud of its efforts in supporting the country’s Emiratisation strategy.”

Al Mehyas said that the two-week intensive programme provided by the EIBFS and Oxford University helped him gain key insights into various aspects of leadership, including the importance of building relationships in a professional capacity. “The EIBFS’ role in developing the skills and competencies needed for the future of the financial sector at large is commendable and extremely valuable,” he added.

Over the past few years, EIBFS has worked relentlessly to establish an extensive network of strategic international partnerships. In addition to the Oxford University, EIBFS has initiated collaborations with global educational institutions such as the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in US and UK’s Bangor University.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has approved 92,183 No Objection Certificates (NOC) applications in 2022 as part of the Soqoor programme. It is the first government programme of its kind to evaluate consultants and contractors in Dubai and identify their compliance with the requirements, standards, terms and conditions, and guidelines when submitting NOC service applications and field operations for their projects.

The Soqoor programme makes it easier for consultants and contractors to obtain DEWA’s approval from the first time to submit applications, reduce or avoid violations, damages, and fines, save time and effort, and improve field operations, in addition to preserving DEWA’s assets and services. The programme helps all consultants and contractors involved in infrastructure projects, distribution and transmission of electricity and water in Dubai to comply with the highest international standards of quality, safety, and excellence, and guides them to DEWA’s technical requirements, terms and conditions. This enables them to obtain added value and enhance their competitiveness to achieve the technical specifications of DEWA.

“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, DEWA strives to facilitate all stakeholders and provides all requirements and guidelines for them to work within the best standards, to enrich their experiences and achieves the interests of all stakeholders. We are committed to providing a motivational environment to build and consolidate strong and long-term relationships with our partners. This ensures the prosperity of our business, enhances the UAE’s position and increases its global competitiveness,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President – Transmission (Power) at DEWA, highlighted that DEWA approved 92,183 applications for the NOC service submitted by 2,130 consultants and contractors until the end of December 2022. The Transmission Power division approved 49,011 applications whereas the Distribution Power division approved 32,508 applications; and the Water & Civil division approved 10,664 applications.

The Soqoor programme creates healthy competition among consultants and contractors to ensure compliance with the highest quality, safety, and excellence standards. It makes field operations safer and protects DEWA’s assets and its services. The programme is related to corporate performance based on scientific means, such as the quality of applications and respecting DEWA’s assets. Consultants and contractors who achieve the best performance according to the highest international standards win Soqoor awards in project and service categories, such as Infrastructure Projects NOC; Electricity Network Services; and Water Network Services.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority