Day: June 10, 2023

SHARJAH, 10th June, 2023 (WAM) — Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone (SPC Free Zone) has announced an expedited business setup process, allowing businesses to obtain their licences within just 45 minutes across an extensive selection of 1,500 business activities to choose from. Aspiring business owners, especially those in the publishing, creative sectors, and allied industries, can also avail unique solutions tailored to their needs in the world’s first-of-its-kind publishing Free Zone. SPC Free Zone has also unveiled a limited-time package aimed at reducing business licensing and set-up costs, providing a strategic opportunity for business owners to join the region’s largest publishing ecosystem. By offering innovative solutions, SPC Free Zone empowers smaller businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to establish or expand their operations in the business-friendly emirate. This comprehensive package includes the processing of essential documents such as the Memorandum of Association (MoA), lease agreements at the free zone, share certificates, certificates of formation, and business activity certificates. Additionally, the package covers crucial administrative processes such as E-channel registration, establishment card issuance, and UAE residency in less than 5 days, as well as Emirates ID typing. For AED 14,500 new free zone entrants will get their 45-minute business licence, one investor visa and the flexibility to combine up to three activities from a diverse selection of 1,500 business activities that can be carried out within the freezone. Alongside the features, companies entering SPC Free Zone will also enjoy access to an array of exceptional business support services including corporate banking assistance. Furnished offices, unfurnished spaces that can be customised to a business’ needs, the region’s only print-on-demand printing facility within SPC Free Zone’s premises, strategic access to sea ports both on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and low operating costs alongside expert assistance will ensure a solid foundation for growth and success. Moreover, being located in Sharjah, a strong regional gateway for both mainstream and emerging market sectors, businesses within the free zone will also benefit the emirate’s agile and pro-investor legal and regulatory frameworks and its well-connected business environment. As a frontrunner in promoting Sharjah’s status as a global hub for the creative and knowledge sectors, SPC Free Zone is committed to providing unparalleled opportunities for regional market expansion and global impact.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

AJMAN, 10th June, 2023 (WAM) — The International Charity Organisation (ICO) has launched “Al-Adha Campaign 2023”, to implement an array of charitable and humanitarian initiatives and projects with an estimated value of AED 17 million inside and outside the UAE. Among the most important of these projects: slaughtering and distributing the sacrificial animals of cows and sheep, Hajj al-Badal, food aid, orphans sponsorship, building mosques, digging wells, building centres for Memorising the Holy Qur’an, distributing copies of the Holy Qur’an, and other humanitarian and charitable projects. Dr. Khaled Abdel Wahab Al Khaja, ICO Secretary-General emphasised that this year the Al-Adha Campaign coincides with a number of field visits to needy areas in several countries, such as Niger, Mauritania and Benin. Hazem Hussein

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a cable of congratulation to Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

The King wishing the Portuguese president good health and happiness, and the government and people of the Republic of Portugal steady progress and prosperity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched today Makkah Route initiative in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire at Abidjan International Airport, in the presence of Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the initiative and Director General of Passports, Lieutenant General Suleiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahy, Saudi Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire Saad bin Bakheat Al-Qathami, several senior officials of Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, along with members of the supervisory committee of the initiative.

The Makkah Route initiative aims to receive the pilgrims and complete their procedures from their countries with ease. The process begins with the issuance of electronic visas and collection of vital information, followed by streamlined passport procedures in the departure country’s airport.

These steps are fulfilled after verifying the availability of health requirements, in addition to coding and sorting luggage according to transportation and accomodation arrangements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon their arrival, they go directly to buses to take them to their places of residence in Makkah and Madinah, with designated tracks, while service agencies deliver their luggage to their places of residence.

Ministry of the Interior implements the initiative in seven countries this year 2023, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Morocco, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Côte d’Ivoire, with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA), Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Pilgrim Experience Program (PEP) and the General Directorate of Passports.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Quality of Life Program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the meetings of the second session of the General Assembly of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), which was held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, from 5 to 9 June 2023.

The program was represented in the delegation headed by the Mayor of the Eastern region, Eng. Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Jubeir, the Program’s CEO Khalid Al-Bakr, and many representatives of other sectors and countries worldwide

Entitled “A sustainable urban future through Comprehensive and effective pluralism that Achieves the Goals of sustainable development,” the meeting discussed organizational issues and the strategic plan of the UN-Habitat, in addition to reviewing the preparatory work for the second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

The meeting also witnessed discussion, educating and promoting climate action, and improving the urban environment.

Noura Al-Yousef, a member of the Quality of Life Program discussed the centering of society regarding the themes of quality of life and the promotion of its concept of urban governance, which works to improve the lives of individuals and communities while contributing to its implementation.

UN-Habitat aims to improve education and work on a better urban future, as its mission is to promote sustainable development of human settlements in the social and environmental fields and to provide adequate shelter for all through the development and implementation of joint projects within the framework of achieving an integrated approach to urban development. Sustainable.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

ABU DHABI, 10th June, 2023 (WAM) — Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade said that the UAE and Turkiye enjoy close trade and investment relations, thanks to the common will of their leadership to promote their cooperation to a broader level of partnership. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the minister said that the bilateral relations between the two nations have witnessed successive positive developments during the past two years, culminating in the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) last March, during a virtual summit between President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He added that this agreement, which ushers in a new era of partnership and economic integration, stems from a solid base of close trade and investment relations between the two countries, as non-oil intra-trade increased by 40% to $18.9 billion in 2022, making Turkiye among the top 10 trade partners of the Emirates with a share of more than 3% of the UAE’s non-oil foreign trade. The UAE’s direct foreign investments in Turkiye amounted to more than $5 billion, which puts the UAE among the top 15 countries investing in Turkiye. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Turkiye is the fourth of its kind to be concluded by the UAE as part of its global economic agreements programme, following similar agreements with India, Israel, and Indonesia. The UAE-Turkiye CEPA aims to achieve mutual benefits for both countries and stimulate long-term, sustainable, and comprehensive economic growth by eliminating or reducing customs duties on 82% of goods and products, representing more than 93% of non-oil trade. Additionally, the agreement improves market access to Turkiye for exporters from the UAE, including major sectors such as construction, metals and their products, polymers, and other manufactured products. It is expected that the agreement will contribute to increasing non-oil bilateral trade to $40 billion annually within five years, while also creating 25,000 new job opportunities by 2031. The longstanding ties between the two countries are based on the spirit of mutual understanding and respect, and are aimed at enhancing collaboration in various fields including the economic, climate, cultural, and youth-empowerment sectors. The total volume of Emirati investments in Turkiye reached about $7.8 billion at the end of 2021 in various sectors including financial services, real estate, transportation, renewable energy, ports and logistics. Among the leading Emirati companies investing in Turkey are ADQ, Emirates NBD Bank, Emaar, International Holding Company (IHC), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)