February 21, 2023

Iran Sentences Detained US-Based Opposition Figure to Death

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — A senior member of a U.S.-based Iranian opposition group held by Iran and accused of orchestrating a deadly 2008 mosque bombing has been sentenced to death, authorities said Tuesday.

Iran says Jamshid Sharmahd, a 67-year-old Iranian-German national and U.S. resident, is the leader of the armed wing of a group advocating the restoration of the monarchy that was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

His family has said he was merely the spokesman for the opposition group and denied he was involved in any attacks. They accuse Iranian intelligence of abducting him from Dubai in 2020. His hometown is Glendora, California.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the death sentence is “absolutely unacceptable” and that there would be a “clear reaction,” without elaborating.

She said Sharmahd did not have “even the beginning of a fair trial” and that consular access and access to the trial had been “repeatedly denied.” She also said he had been arrested “under highly questionable circumstances,” without elaborating.

The death sentence — which can be appealed — comes against the backdrop of months of anti-government protests in Iran and a fierce crackdown on dissent. Monarchists based outside Iran support the protests, as do other groups and individuals with different ideologies.

The official website of Iran’s judiciary said Sharmahd was convicted of plotting terrorist activities. He was tried in a Revolutionary Court, where proceedings are held behind closed doors and where rights groups say defendants are unable to choose their lawyers or see the evidence against them.

Iranian authorities have accused him of planning a series of attacks, including the 2008 bombing of the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada Mosque in Shiraz, in which 14 people were killed and more than 200 were wounded. He has also been accused of working with U.S. intelligence and spying on Iran’s ballistic missile program.

State TV has said his group was also behind a 2010 bombing at Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran that wounded several people.

Iran says Sharmahd is the leader of Tondar, the militant wing of the opposition group known as the Kingdom Assembly of Iran. He had been previously targeted in an apparent Iranian assassination plot on U.S. soil in 2009.

His family says he was passing through Dubai on his way to India for a business deal in July 2020 when he abruptly stopped responding to calls or messages from them. Location data showed his phone leaving a hotel near the airport and traveling south, across the border into neighboring Oman and to the port of Sohar, where the signal stopped.

Two days later, Iran announced that Sharmahd had been captured in a “complex operation” and the Intelligence Ministry published a photo of him blindfolded.

His family says he was held in solitary confinement for more than 18 months before being put on trial in February of last year.

A Middle East expert with Amnesty International’s German branch, Katja Müller-Fahlbusch, said the organization is “appalled by the death sentence.”

She said in a statement that the proceedings were “a show trial” and that “Iran withheld numerous rights from him, including the free choice of a lawyer.”

Müller-Fahlbusch added that Sharmahd’s family has had “as good as no contact” with him for over two years, no one knows what prison he is in and “we have to assume that he has been a victim of torture.” In addition, his health has “worsened dramatically” in custody and Iranian authorities have “systematically denied him access to appropriate medical care,” she said.

Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in Dubai and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the cosmopolitan city in the United Arab Emirates, which is a U.S. ally. Iran is suspected of kidnapping and later killing British-Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, though Tehran has denied involvement.

The U.S. State Department runs its Iran Regional Presence Office in Dubai, where diplomats monitor Iranian media reports and talk to Iranians.

Iran has been rocked by more than five months of anti-government protests ignited by the death of a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s strict Islamic dress code. The protesters have called for the overthrow of the country’s ruling clerics.

Security forces have attacked the demonstrators with live ammunition, birdshot and batons, rights groups say. At least 530 protesters have been killed and nearly 20,000 people have been arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, a group monitoring the unrest.

Iranian authorities have blamed the protests on hostile foreign powers, without providing evidence, and have not released official figures for those killed or arrested.

Iran has executed four men accused of violence linked to the protests, and activists say at least 16 others have been sentenced to death.

Source: Voice of America

February 21, 2023

Climate Ambassadors Programme invites students nationwide to take charge of their environmental future

DUBAI, The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in collaboration with the Expo School Programme, today unveiled the Climate Ambassadors Programme (CAP), a special initiative inviting high school students from across the UAE to step into the shoes of the climate negotiators attending COP28 at Expo City Dubai later this year.

Students take part in a simulation of a COP session by becoming Ambassadors for a selected country, where they learn about the impact of climate change in that country and work with their fellow Ambassadors to find solutions by drafting and amending action plans and negotiating a final consensus together to combat climate change.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, stressed the initiative’s strong underlying message and purpose: “The UAE has long understood the critical role young people play in bringing about a more sustainable future for all. Initiatives like the Climate Ambassadors Programme are giving youth across the nation the tools and the platform to engage with climate change issues and decide for themselves the action we should take, in collaboration with their peers.”

She added: “Make no mistake, we have seen first-hand that progress only comes through participation. The Climate Ambassadors Programme has been developed by the Ministry to give students in the UAE the chances to take part; to channel their overwhelming passion for sustainability; and to become a vital part of the solution.

CAP is further evidence of our commitment in the UAE to stage a highly inclusive climate change summit. All views matter, particularly those of our youth, the sustainability leaders of tomorrow and the future faces of global climate action.”

The MOCCAE-led project, in collaboration with the Expo School Programme, directly aligns with the Ministry’s strategic remit to raise awareness about climate change among the young generation; build youth capacities to address the issue, and promote youth participation in climate action and related decision-making.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and CEO, Expo City Dubai Authority, said: “Humanity has a collective responsibility to overcome the challenges of climate change, and, via the Expo School Programme, we have witnessed how seriously the youth of the UAE take their responsibility as custodians of our planet. It is therefore our duty to help them reach their full potential, with learning opportunities that foster essential skills including critical thinking, debate, teamwork and leadership.

“As a clean and green destination, an education hub, and host of COP28, Expo City Dubai is proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on CAP, and to continue offering inspiring, meaningful, and transformative learning experiences for our future leaders – in the journey to an inclusive and solutions-led COP28 and beyond.”

Having started on February 20th, 2023 and hosted at Expo City Dubai, CAP replicates the COP environment through a unique and immersive educational experience where students become ambassadors of a selected country, learn about the impact of climate change, collaborate with other student representatives to find solutions together before drafting an action plan that will be shared with the school group.

CAP is designed to act as a ‘youth COP’ which allows them to adopt the roles and responsibilities of various international stakeholders involved in what will be one of the most significant multilateral events the UAE has ever hosted.

A report capturing the session Chair’s feedback on action plans and particularly impactful negotiation points is then shared with each school to allow both teachers and students to build on the platform created through their participation in CAP.

Welcoming students between 12 and 17 years old, CAP will hold a number of sessions in the lead-up to COP28. Registrations are open to schools across the UAE.

Source: Emirates News Agency

February 21, 2023

Creek and Deira Wharfage Customs Center deals with 13,700 vessels in 2

H.E. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation toured the Creek and Deira Wharfage Customs Center to check on the readiness of the center, the work procedures and latest achievements. Musabih called for more coordination with government entities and providing distinguished services to dhow owners to facilitate maritime trade. His Excellency applauded the Center’s latest initiatives, which promote inspectors’ safety. The Center dealt with 13,700 inbound and outbound vessels in 2022.

Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of Customs Development Division, Mohammed Al Ghaffari, Executive Director, Human Resources, Finance and Administration Division, Dr. Abdullah Busnad, Executive Director of Customs Inspection Division and Mahmoud Amin, CEO, Dhow Maritime Agent at PCFC accompanied Musabih in his tour.

They listened to a presentation by Rashid Al-Dhabah Al Suwaidi, (Acting) Director of Sea Customs Center Management and Khalifa Ateeq, senior manager of Deira Wharfage and Creek Customs Center about the initiatives launched lately towards a more streamlined inspection of dhows (wooden vessels) at the center, which included a new inspection checkpoint at the creek entrance (Shandagha).

Director General viewed a number of projects at the center including a cooling inspection suit worn by inspectors when doing routine inspection inside the hot wooden dhows. In addition, he learnt about the new work procedures that aim to streamline inspection to facilitate maritime trade in the emirate.

“Dubai Creek is a very important trading port and for that we help in enhancing and facilitating trade through it,” Musabih said. “This will help grow the maritime trade sector, which is essential for the local economy. Dubai Creek has been the main artery of Dubai, and it has always played a key role in the emirate’s trade with the neighboring countries. In this framework, it is very important to continuously upgrade the procedures at the Creek and Deira Wharfage Customs Center and to equip the staff with the latest technologies and specialized training.”

Source: Dubai Customs

February 21, 2023

Dubai Police Dominates UAE SWAT Challenge 2023’s

The second day of the UAE SWAT Challenge 2023 came to an exciting close with the highly anticipated Assault Event. The event tested the speed, accuracy, and teamwork of the participating SWAT teams, who competed fiercely against one another to secure a spot at the top of the leaderboard.

Despite the challenging obstacles and tasks, the teams exhibited impressive skills and professionalism throughout the event. The audience watched in awe as the SWAT teams executed each mission step with precision and efficiency, showcasing their expertise and experience.

The event was attended by several senior officers and officials, including the Dubai Police Commander-in-chief, His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, who expressed his admiration for the participating teams and their remarkable performance. He also commended the event organizers for their efforts in bringing together the world’s top SWAT teams to compete in this prestigious competition.

After a gruelling battle, the winners of the Assault Event were announced. The top three teams emerged victorious as follows:

First place: The Dubai Police Team (B) from the United Arab Emirates with 55 points

Second place: The SOBR Team from the Republic of Serbia with 54 points

Third place: The Abu Dhabi Police Team (A) from the United Arab Emirates with 53 points.

The UAE SWAT Challenge 2023 continues to impress audiences and participants alike, showcasing the world-class skills and capabilities of the participating SWAT teams. The event serves as a reminder of the importance of well-trained and highly skilled law enforcement personnel in ensuring the safety and security of communities worldwide.

The Future of SWAT Forces

The second day of the UAE SWAT Challenge 2023 also say the Dubai Police General Command, through the Department of VIPs Security and Protection in the General Department of Organisations Protective Security and Emergency, hosting a dialogue session on the future of joint security cooperation for the SWAT forces. The event saw the participation of 24 national, regional and international police and security agencies.

According to Colonel Issa Ahli, Director of the VIPs Security and Protection Department, the session reflects Dubai Police’s commitment to looking ahead and addressing future security challenges, especially in the area of tactical teams and raids. The dialogue session aimed to generate fresh ideas for all types of SWAT operations in the field and explore the latest modern technologies, such as drone systems, modern weapons, clothing, and more.

The session included discussions on modern technologies and technical skills that must be developed by all tactical teams, types of field SWAT operations, and modern negotiation mechanisms, among other topics.

Source: Dubai Police

February 21, 2023

Gulfood 2023 reinforces Dubai’s position as food capital of the world

DUBAI, Organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Gulfood, the largest annual global food and beverage sourcing event in the world, is being held from 20-24 February 2023. Gulfood has become a major event in Dubai’s food scene, showcasing its culinary prowess and diverse food industry. It has cemented the city’s position as the food capital of the world. In the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, the event will have a special emphasis on sustainable initiatives and unveil several projects aimed at promoting sustainability.

Gulfood 2023 has launched its new global sustainability initiative, Gulfood Green, to promote more sustainable food production and consumption. The event presents topics related to sustainability, such as reducing food waste and building a more sustainable food business. Gulfood has also launched its international tree-planting campaign called Gulfood Forest to help conserve, restore, and grow trees globally, thereby reducing carbon emissions.

Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said: “Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has announced ‘environment and sustainability’ among the UAE’s top 5 priorities for 2023, we are proud to be launching several sustainability initiatives at Gulfood 2023.

“In the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, these initiatives will help to promote responsible and sustainable practices across the F&B industry in Dubai and beyond. From reducing food waste and promoting healthy eating to sourcing sustainable ingredients and reducing carbon footprints, these initiatives will help to ensure that Dubai remains at the forefront of the global food and beverage industry, while also supporting the city’s wider sustainability goals.

“We believe that sustainability is not just an obligation, but a responsibility, and we are committed to working closely with our partners and stakeholders to create a more sustainable future for our city and our planet. We look forward to continuing to drive innovation, excellence and sustainability across the F&B industry, and to welcoming visitors from around the world to experience the very best that our city has to offer.”

The 28th edition of the show is 30% larger than the previous edition, with more than 5,000 confirmed exhibitors, including 1,500 first-time exhibitors. The event brings together F&B communities from around the world in Dubai to discuss the future of the rapidly evolving sector. This year, Gulfood Plus, a new hall with 10,000 sqm of added floorspace, has been introduced, where first-time exhibitors are showcasing product innovations.

Gulfood Green Awards will also be held to recognise excellence in sustainability across the F&B industry. The Gulfood Inspire Conference, which includes ministers, F&B leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society, and industry experts, will discuss sustainable food production, food security, nutrition education, waste reduction, securing international supply chains, and food service trends.

Gulfood has partnered with Mintel, a market intelligence agency, to create a thought leadership programme for the F&B industry. Gulfood Green aims to help shift towards more resilient and sustainable food production and consumption to reverse the trends of inflation and rising costs of consumer goods, food, utilities, and fuel. Gulfood 2023 gathers the global F&B industry to offer a platform for business opportunities and innovations while leading the way in sustainability.

Gulfood is also set to launch two new events. Gulfood Green and Gulfood Agrotech will take place from 24 to 26 September 2024 and will focus on showcasing smart agriculture technologies and innovative practices that support climate-friendly food access, sourcing, production, transportation, logistics, and distribution. The events will particularly emphasise the impact of these practices on developing countries. The events aim to provide a critical annual platform to address the socio-economic and environmental challenges facing the global food industry. They will bring together stakeholders to collaborate and exchange innovative ideas for improving global food security.

Dubai’s F&B sector continues to record steady growth, with the emirate now home to 13,000 restaurants and cafés serving a variety of cuisines, from fine dining to street food, that shape the city’s delightfully international F&B landscape.

Dubai has been recognised as the food capital of the world, with the arrival of culinary guides like Gault&Millau UAE, Michelin Guide Dubai, and Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants. Leading restaurants in Dubai are creating new and original concepts by blending cuisines, styles, and ingredients, reflecting the city’s cultural diversity. Showcasing the best of Dubai’s gastronomy, Michelin Guide Dubai features 69 of the city’s finest restaurants.

Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate has its sights set on becoming the most visited destination in the world. The growth of the F&B sector reflects Dubai’s business-friendly and transparent investment environment, marked by exceptional ease of doing business and high levels of security and safety.”

One of the world’s most popular tourist hotspots with a stated ambition to become the best city in the world to live and work in, visitors and residents now increasingly see Dubai as a global gastronomy hub. “The increase in the number of restaurants and cafés is also driven by Dubai’s dynamic entrepreneurial landscape and investor confidence in its growth prospects,” said Kazim. “The city has accelerated the tourism momentum over the past two years, ending 2021 with 7.28 million visitors and 2022 with 14.36 million international visitors, a 97% year-on-year growth,” he added.

The inaugural Michelin Guide Dubai revealed in June last year firmly puts the city on the global gastronomy map. Michelin said the Dubai guide, its first in the Middle East, ‘celebrates Dubai’s spectacular culinary map, that is as vibrant and diverse as it is energetic.’

“Dubai is a leader in culinary excellence. We are honoured that the city has been included in the Michelin Guide. Home to nationals from 200 countries, the city is a gourmand’s delight. A sustained increase in its population and unprecedented tourist growth has made Dubai a hotspot for international cuisines,” said Kazim.

The Dubai World Cuisine initiative is being launched at Gulfood 2023, where celebrity chefs will showcase their signature dishes. Seven iconic global chefs will collaborate for one night only to present a never-seen-before menu across the city. The Dubai World Cuisine initiative focuses on partnering Dubai chefs with their peers from other international culinary hotspots, with a focus on Michelin-starred chefs from Singapore. This inaugural year of Dubai World Cuisine will offer a unique culinary experience to food connoisseurs.

Dubai has emerged as a leading destination for food lovers, thanks to a diverse culinary scene that showcases cuisines from around the world. The cosmopolitan city has become a melting pot of cultures, attracting top chefs and culinary talents from around the globe. Dubai’s food culture has been shaped by its unique geography, with its location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The city boasts a rich tradition of Arabic cuisine, but also offers a wide variety of international dishes, from Italian and French to Indian and Chinese.

In recent years, Dubai has witnessed a surge in food carnivals and events, including the annual Dubai Food Festival, which attracts thousands of foodies from around the world. The city is known for several events with a special focus on food, including the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises, Eid in Dubai, and Ramadan in Dubai, in addition to the various independent activities organised by malls and large restaurant chains.

The city has also become home to numerous high-end restaurants, offering a range of dining experiences from casual street food to Michelin-starred cuisine. Dubai’s position as a global hub for travel and tourism has also contributed to its rise as a food capital. The city’s airport is one of the busiest in the world, connecting Dubai to over 200 destinations across six continents. This has made it easier for tourists and visitors to sample the city’s diverse food offerings.

With the growing demand for food, it is imperative to ensure that food safety and hygiene standards are in place to protect the health of residents and visitors. To this end, Dubai Municipality has taken a proactive approach to enforce best practices in food hygiene through periodic inspections in cooperation with relevant authorities.

According to Dawoud Abdulrahman Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, “Ensuring food safety is a critical issue that has a direct impact on the health of individuals and the reputation of the destination. Therefore, we take food safety very seriously, and it is our top priority to ensure that all food establishments comply with international standards and benchmarks.”

Al Hajri added: “Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department is committed to enhancing confidence in food safety by designing integrated systems that align with both local and international best practices. We establish and utilise unified procedures for controlling imported food and food establishments in Dubai, ensuring the safety of imported food products, food activities and products, as well as investigating and monitoring food-borne illnesses. We aim to promote food safety awareness and ensure the highest standards of food hygiene in the city.”

The risk-based inspections carried out by Dubai Municipality are rigorous and cover a range of areas, including food handling, storage, preparation, and serving. Inspectors ensure that all food handlers have received adequate training and possess the necessary skills to handle food safely. They also check that food is stored at the appropriate temperature, that utensils are clean and properly maintained, and that the environment is free from pests and other potential sources of contamination.

In addition to regular inspections, Dubai Municipality also offers a range of resources and services to help food establishments maintain high levels of food safety. These include training and awareness programmes, guidelines and a digital platform that food business operators can use to manage their day-to-day food safety checks, manage their suppliers and contractors, evaluate their performance reports and receive guidance on how to improve their food safety practices.

“We believe in our role in creating awareness in society to ensure the highest levels of health and safety. These campaigns provide essential information on food safety, covering safe shopping, proper methods of storing and preparing food, ordering food through smart apps, and more. This includes a list of requirements for food delivery services and training workers in food establishments to ensure the application of food safety and public health standards during the food delivery process.

“The outreach efforts are also extended to school students through workshops and educational films, with messages about proper nutrition and recreational activities for children to enhance their knowledge. Ensuring food safety for all is a joint responsibility, and the efforts will continue through the Foodwatch portal and other means to achieve effective communication and participation. Ensuring food safety is not only a legal requirement but a moral obligation towards the community.”

Dubai has established itself as the food capital of the world, offering a diverse range of cuisines that reflect the city’s cosmopolitan culture. With its rich culinary traditions, top chefs and global food events, Dubai is set to remain a top destination for food lovers for years to come.

Source: Emirates News Agency

February 21, 2023

Electricity and water accounts in Dubai increase by 79% in 10 years, reflecting the expansion Dubai is witnessing across all economic activities

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has revealed that the number of electricity accounts reached 1,116,575 accounts by the end of 2022 compared to 624,445 accounts by the end of 2012. The number of water accounts increased to 995,478 by the end of 2022, compared to 554,562 accounts by the end of 2012. This is an increase of around 79% in electricity and water accounts in Dubai in 10 years.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, noted that the increase in DEWA’s customers reflects the continuous growth in population and the expansion the Emirate is witnessing across all economic activities.

“To achieve the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we are developing a world-class infrastructure for electricity and water to keep pace with the growing demand in Dubai and provide our services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency, and quality. DEWA keeps pace with the increasing demand for energy and water by raising its production capacity, reaching 14,517MW of electricity and 490 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water. DEWA has also expanded its transmission and distribution networks to keep pace with the vast expansion of Dubai. We provide electricity and water services to over 3.5 million people in Dubai and over 4.7 million individuals during the day. Our expansion plans are based on the demand forecast until 2030, considering the Emirate’s demographic and economic growth. We will continue to develop Dubai’s infrastructure to provide the best facilities for the best city in the world, guided by the vision and directives of the wise leadership to enhance Dubai’s position as a global city and a preferred destination for living, working, business and tourism,” said Al Tayer.

“We are working to diversify energy sources in Dubai through pioneering projects that include clean and renewable energy technologies in Dubai. This will help achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. Currently, the share of clean energy production capacity is about 14% of Dubai’s total energy mix,” added Al Tayer

Al Tayer said that DEWA uses clean solar energy to desalinate seawater using the latest RO technologies. According to the strategy, 100% of Dubai’s desalinated water production in 2030 will come from a mix of clean energy that combines renewable energy sources and waste heat. This will make Dubai exceed the globally set goal regarding using clean energy in water desalination.

DEWA’s results surpass major European and American utilities in several key performance indicators. Losses from electricity transmission and distribution networks were reduced to 2.2% compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA. Water network losses were also reduced to 4.5% compared to around 15% in North America. DEWA has achieved a new world record in electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) per year. Dubai recorded 1.19 minutes per customer, compared to around 15 minutes recorded by leading utility companies in the European Union.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority