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Dubai Customs is ‘Most Creative Organisation’ in the Middle East: GInI

DUBAI, In a new recognition and an international testimony to Dubai Customs’ outstanding achievement in innovation and creativity, it topped the Middle East as the region’s (Most Creative Organisation) in 2021, according to a Global Innovation Institute (GInI) report.

Dubai Customs is the first government organisation in the UAE to achieve this recognition.

GInI is the world’s leading professional certification, accreditation, and membership association in the field. It operates the world’s most recognised, comprehensive, and professionally managed evidence-based innovation certification programme for individuals and business organisations.

The report highlighted the outstanding performance of Dubai Customs that led to this recognition. In addition, it shed light on a previous achievement when GInI recognised Dubai Customs as a Certified Innovative Organisation Level Leader. It is the first customs organisation in the world and the first government organisation in the UAE and the Middle East to have this certification. GInI accredited two Dubai Customs’ innovation labs. Future Centre for Research and Development, and Innovation Oasis.

The report also listed 20 accreditations for outstanding innovations that were classified: Transformational. These included the e-Commerce Cross Border Platform, the Risk Engine, the Smart Workspace, Al Munaseq, Auditing Robot, Mirsal 2, among others. All these innovations contribute to a more streamlined global trade and help with better customs services provided to clients.

The Smart Innovator Platform, which was directed by Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director-General of Dubai Customs, is one of the catalysts that Dubai Customs relies on to develop its projects. The interactive platform enables the employees to introduce their innovative ideas and suggestions, which will mature into solid outstanding projects in line with the Dubai Government innovation framework.

The Smart Innovator Platform gained several global awards and recognitions including 15 accreditations from GInI.

Musabih expressed his happiness at this outstanding achievement, which emphasises a consolidated culture of creativity and innovation in the Government Department’s workplace.

“This is within our vision to become the leading customs administration worldwide supporting legitimate trade, and all these innovative projects will help Dubai and the UAE maintain their leading position as a hub of trade, travel and knowledge-based development. Dubai Customs is a strong and loyal supporter to the UAE innovation journey towards the UAE Centennial 2071 along with the National Innovation Strategy launched by Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Developing creative services will help Dubai trade achieve the AED2 trillion objective, set by the leadership. Nearly 99.6 percent of our customs transactions in Q1 this year are carried out through smart channels.

Juma Al Ghaith, Executive Director of the Customs Development Division at Dubai Customs said, “Dubai Customs is an example to follow when it comes to innovation, thanks to the support that we receive from our senior management and the optimal investment in human resources.”

Dr. Hussam Juma, Director of the Service Innovation Department said, “This achievement reflects the trust that global think tanks and organisations have in our innovation strategies and plans. It motivates us to keep it up to achieve more success and best implementation of customs standards.”

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Dubai further expands free vaccination drive in partnership with private sector

DUBAI, The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced today that 17 private healthcare service providers will now provide vaccination services to the community in addition to all DHA vaccination centres.

Dr. Farida Al Khaja, CEO of Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector at the DHA and Chairperson of the COVID-19 Vaccination Steering Committee, said: “The vaccines will continue to be provided free-of-cost. Extending the vaccination drive in partnership with private healthcare providers aims to expand capacity and enhance access and convenience for the public. The private health sector is a key partner in our drive to ensure excellence in patient-centred care.”

Apart from citizens and Dubai residence holders, GCC nationals who have an Emirates ID and elderly residents above 60 years who live in Dubai but have a residency of another emirate can also receive the vaccine.

To book an appointment at any DHA vaccine facility, customers should download the DHA app. Those above 60 years can call 800 342 to book an appointment.

For private health sector facilities, customers must directly contact the facility of their choice to book the vaccine.

The two vaccines presently available are: Pfizer BioNTech and Sinopharm.

All those who are scheduled to receive the second dose of their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will continue to receive it. Their appointment will be either in Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Centre or Al Twar Dialysis Centre.

DHA Vaccination Centres Vaccine type One Central COVID-19 Vaccination Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Barsha Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Za’abeel Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Mankhool Health Centre Sinopharm Al Safa Health Centre Sinopharm Dubai Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Pfizer-BioNTech Al Barsha Hall Vaccination Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Nadd Al Hamar Health Centre Sinopharm Al Twar Health Centre Sinopharm Al Mizhar Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Uptown Occupational Health Screening Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Centre – After 10th of May Pfizer-BioNTech Al Twar Dialysis Centre – After 10th of May Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine type Private Health Centres for COVID-19 Vaccination: Sinopharm Al Futtaim Health Hub Sinopharm AL GARHOUD PRIVATE HOSPITAL LLC Sinopharm AL ZAHRA HOSPITAL Sinopharm American Hospital Sinopharm Aster Hospital Sinopharm Burjeel Hospital Sinopharm CANADIAN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL Sinopharm Emirates Hospital, Jumeirah Sinopharm INTERNATIONAL MODERN HOSPITAL Sinopharm Kings College Hospital Sinopharm MEDCARE ORTHOPAEDICS & SPINE HOSPITAL Sinopharm MEDICLINIC Sinopharm NMC Royal Hospital Sinopharm PRIME HOSPITAL L.L.C Sinopharm Saudi German Hospital Sinopharm Valiant Healthcare L.L.C.

Sinopharm VIP Doctor 247 DMCC Al Khaja added that in addition to all these centres, DHA and Mohammed bin Rashid University for Health Sciences ( MBRU) are continuing their Wellness on Wheels initiative which features two mobile clinics that provide vaccination to the elderly, labourers and underprivileged members of society. DHA also has a mobile vaccination drive in place for government agencies.

Additionally, DHA is providing home vaccination services in cooperation with Dubai Ambulance Corporation and Community Development Authority.

She added that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available at the Dubai Parks Health Centre and the Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Police launch ‘Studies and Sports’ initiative for brightest young talents

DUBAI, The Dubai Sports Council and Dubai Police announced today the launch of a brand new initiative, “Studies and Sports”, which focuses on providing Dubai’s brightest young sports talents with quality education at Dubai Police’s Hemaya Schools and, at the same time, increasing their training hours to meet international standards.

The initiative, which will start from the 2021-2022 sports and academic year in September, will adopt a flexible “Studies and Sports” system, which will enable students to train at Hemaya Schools in the morning, in addition to evening training sessions at their clubs. This flexible academic system will lead to an 83 per cent increase in the annual training sessions – from 192 to 240 – for every student, while their annual training hours will increase by 96 per cent, from 352 hours to 472 hours.

The announcement was made following the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Major General Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed bin Fahd, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of Academic and Training Affairs at Dubai Police, signed the MoU in the presence of Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary-General of the Dubai Sports Council; Ali Omar Al Balooshi, Director of the council’s sports development department; Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, head of the sports clubs section at the council; Brigadier Dr. Mohammed Butti Al Shamsi, Deputy Director of Dubai Police Academy, and other officials of the council and Dubai Police.

The initiative comes following recommendations by experts of the French Football Federation following their visit to Dubai to evaluate the academy structure at Dubai clubs. The French experts had emphasised the need to increase training hours for trainees at the academies to meet international standards. The “Studies and Sports” initiative is an effort by the Dubai Sports Council to do just that without compromising on the academic needs of the young sports talents.

The initiative will gather the best young sports talents, aged 12 to 16, from Dubai’s clubs, starting with football in the first year, and the first batch of students are expected to start their studies with Hemaya Schools from the new academic year in September.

Hemaya Schools is an initiative of Dubai Police, launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), to provide free quality education to the children of Dubai Police employees.

The Hemaya Schools – for boys in Deira and girls in Karama – focus on providing a safe, healthy and enjoyable learning environment by following the latest teaching methods, as well as on nurturing students and shaping them into future leaders and influential citizens of the local community.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Final Expo 2020 IPM underscores world’s confidence in UAE and Dubai’s ability to host the world’s greatest event : Reem Al Hashemy

DUBAI, The final International Participants Meeting (IPM) of Expo 2020 Dubai began today, attracting 370 delegates from around the globe, demonstrating that Dubai is open for business and ready to welcome the world, following the success of the UAE’s measures to tackle the global health pandemic.

Expo’s sixth IPM is the final gathering of nations, multilateral organisations, academic institutions, and corporations before Expo 2020 Dubai opens in October. The attendees, representing 173 of Expo’s 190-plus participating countries and 24 participating organisations, gathered physically at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai – the first event to be held at the world-class, multipurpose venue.

In her statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director-General of the Expo 2020 Dubai Office, said, “Our meetings today and tomorrow are the largest and most important before the launch of the expo. This technical coordination meeting is being attended by 370 delegates from 173 countries, underscoring the world’s confidence in the ability of the UAE and Dubai’s capacity to host the expo after five months, and, most importantly, their confidence in the UAE’s health system. The UAE has proven to the world that it can overcome difficulties and challenges.”

Responding to a question on Dubai’s preparations for the expo, she added, “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed us to impress the world. Therefore, we have implemented mega projects and constructed a new city. Moreover, the event will witness an unprecedented international presence, as over 190 countries have confirmed their participation despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the dire conditions affecting the world.”

”This is a vote of confidence which we are proud of,” she said.

“As everyone knows, the UAE had to postpone the expo for one year, but now, the presence of international delegations and their participation highlights their confidence in our ability to host the event in October 2021.

Their confidence affirms their belief in the UAE’s effective management of the event and all teams representing the Dubai Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the police, and all relevant federal and local authorities, which are cooperating to implement the vision of the country’s leadership,” she further added.

On the expo’s preparations in line with the COVID-19 pandemic and related precautionary measures, Al Hashemy said,” We are keen to adopt appropriate safety procedures and the importance of wearing facemasks and maintaining social distancing.” All delegations have undergone PCR tests before travelling to the expo’s location, and all employees have taken the COVID-19 vaccine, she affirmed, while stressing the importance of adhering to related precautionary measures, especially when receiving delegations and guests.

She concluded that all Expo 2020 Dubai staff underwent COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency