Category: News

DUBAI, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), announced today a collaboration with DP World to support the Tumoohi Initiative.

This falls in line with its ongoing commitment to empowering young Emirati competencies and preparing the next generation of leaders in the logistics and trade sectors.

Tumoohi is a recognised training programme initiative by DP World, designed to boost the careers of the young and talented Emiratis by helping them develop essential skills and expertise to excel and have an edge in today’s highly competitive job market.

By providing unique training programmes and hands-on workplace experience at a number of the world’s leading multinational companies, Tumoohi enables trainees to develop a network of professional relationships with industry leaders, in addition to identifying and showcase their competencies with employers looking for specialised talents.

Under the agreement, DIEZ will give participants an exceptional opportunity to gain professional and practical experience and learn about best practices and global standards.

Participants will be able to work with DIEZ, along with companies registered in the Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) and Dubai Silicon Oasis, offering job opportunities across thousands of leading regional and international companies that have been active within the two free zones in the last 26 years.

The young talents will also have the opportunity to work and train at Dubai CommerCity, the first free zone dedicated to digital commerce. Dubai CommerCity has recently adopted the concepts of “digital commerce” and “technology first” to lead an evolving operational approach for ambitious and regional companies in the digital economy and related sectors.

Under its new direction, Dubai CommerCity aims to enhance returns, economic contributions, and sustainable growth, in order to positively impact the experience of investors, companies, and talents.

Saeed Mubarak Obaid Murad, Vice President of Human Resources at DIEZ, said, “DIEZ places Emiratisation and qualifying Emirati competencies at the top of its strategic priorities, in line with the efforts to implement the strategic national plans and initiatives of our wise leadership. Through its three free zones, DIEZ is home to more than 5,000 international companies covering 20 key economic sectors, offering participants of this programme a unique opportunity to work with major international companies of all sizes. This aims to enhance young talents’ capabilities, allowing them to gain attractive professional and specialised skills to join the private sector workforce. Through this initiative, we aim to make DIEZ’s free zones and companies even more compelling in attracting local and international talent, by providing similar opportunities and strengthening cooperation with free zone companies to support the Emiratisation of their staff.”

Nabil Qayed, Director of People & General Administration, People Department, DP World UAE, commented, “At DP World, we firmly believe that youth empowerment and training are vital for the progress of any country. As an international organisation established in Dubai, we are committed to ramping our national pool of talents and support the UAE’s economy through this strategic initiative, which will present new Emirati graduates with the opportunity to engage with local and international companies within the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and beyond, ensuring the promotion of the UAE’s future growth. We are pleased to renew this cooperation, which falls in line with the vision of our wise leadership, along with DP World’s continuous endeavour to foster all Emirati talents and build a well-equipped generation of future leaders.”

Yousuf Ahmad Al Aslai, Manager, Tumoohi, DP World UAE, said, “Our youth is fundamental to the success of the UAE in the next 50 years. Therefore, this initiative seeks to enhance the prospects for success by boosting technical and logistical capabilities, and providing a young workforce with an abundance of innovative ideas to promote commercial growth.”

DP World’s Tumoohi Initiative programmes will offer new Emirati graduates the opportunity to accumulate valuable experience from leading local and global companies, helping them develop essential skills to excel in today’s ever-changing and advancing work environment. The initiative also encourages trainees to engage with leading industry experts and potential employers to build close relationships over the long run.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Within their efforts to enhance cooperation with foreign diplomatic missions on protection of intellectual property rights, the IPR Department at Dubai Customs organized a virtual meeting with officials from the American embassy.

The meeting discussed important means and strategies to tackle piracy and counterfeiting.

Maryam Al-Muahiri, Head of External Relations Sections and Khulood Al-Housani, Education and Awareness Officer represented Dubai Customs in the meeting. The American embassy was represented by Bruce Elsourth, Technology Attaché and a number of companies affiliated to the embassy’s trade attache’, who are looking to expand their business in the emirate.

Cooperating to tackle counterfeiting was the highlight of the meeting. This includes the recycling of counterfeit goods.

“Cooperating with the diplomatic missions includes coordinating with companies affiliated with the trade attaché to help protect their brands from counterfeiting. In 2021, the IPR Department resolved 390 IP disputes that have an estimated value of AED 14.8 million, and 2.112 million counterfeit items for 221 trademarks were recycled.”

Bruce Elsourth highly commended Dubai Customs for their valuable efforts in protecting intellectual property and said American diplomatic missions are highly interested in usual cooperation with the Government Department in this side.

Source: DUBAI CUSTOMS

ABU DHABI, The Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi has launched a campaign that promotes inclusive, and cohesive society under the slogan “One Community”.

Held in cooperation with the Authority of Social Contribution (Ma’an), Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), and Emirates Foundation, the campaign aims to celebrate and encourage a diversified and inclusive community in Abu Dhabi through a wide range of opportunities provided by its partners and stakeholders.

Mohamed Helal Al Balooshi, Executive Director of the Strategic Affairs Office, and the Acting Executive Director of the Community Engagement & Sports sector at the (DCD), explained that the Department is working to create an environment that enhances the spirit of social cooperation by building a society where all groups enjoy prosperity, development, and progress, especially as it gives individuals, families, institutions and entities the opportunity to contribute effectively to a cohesive society.

He stressed that the UAE embraces multiple and diverse cultures with different nationalities from around the world living in harmony on its land. Al Balooshi added that the late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was keen on achieving this by instilling the values of love and cohesion and establishing a culture of coexistence in line with values, customs, and traditions.

Al Balooshi said that the launch of the campaign, aims to promote the spirit of participation and cooperation by educating community members and spreading feelings of belonging and pride in family values among individuals, as well as establish a cohesive society that provides services and opportunities for a decent life for all its members in Abu Dhabi in a manner that creates a society based on stability and peacefulness.

The campaign comes in five languages, Arabic, English, Persian, Urdu and Tagalog “Filipino”, with the aim of reaching all segments of society, spread teamwork spirit and give individuals, entities, and specialised teams opportunities to volunteer. In addition, it aims at activating the role of the third and private sectors through a package of initiatives that promote social responsibility while setting priority and long-term goals by working alongside civil society, encouraging the private sector to organise special events that bring people together within local communities and enhance a sense of belonging.

The campaign highlights motivating community members of different nationalities and ages to participate in community sports activities with the aim of encouraging them to actively participate in community events to provide opportunities to learn from different cultures and enhance communication between different segments of society, by facilitating access to sports facilities and making physical activity a lifestyle for all members of society.

Source: Emirates News Agency

MIAMI — It was a deal that brought together oligarchs from some of America’s top adversaries.

“The key is the cash,” the oil broker wrote in a text message, offering a deep discount on Venezuelan crude shipments to an associate who claimed to be fronting for the owner of Russia’s biggest aluminum company. “As soon as you are ready with cash we can work.”

The communication was included in a 49-page indictment unsealed Wednesday in New York federal court charging seven individuals with conspiring to purchase sensitive U.S. military technology, smuggle oil and launder tens of millions of dollars on behalf of wealthy Russian businessmen.

The frank talk among co-defendants reads like a how-to guide on circumventing U.S. sanctions — complete with Hong Kong shell companies, bulk cash pick-ups, phantom oil tankers and the use of cryptocurrency to cloak transactions that are illicit under U.S. law

It also shines a light on how wealthy insiders from Russia and its ally Venezuela, both barred from the Western financial system, are making common cause to protect their massive fortunes.

Two Russians

At the center of the alleged conspiracy are two Russians: Yury Orekhov, who used to work for a publicly traded aluminum company sanctioned by the U.S., and Artem Uss, the son of a wealthy governor allied with the Kremlin.

The two are partners in a Hamburg, Germany-based company trading in industrial equipment and commodities. Prosecutors allege the company was a hub for skirting U.S. sanctions first imposed against Russian elites following the 2014 invasion of Crimea. Both were arrested, in Germany and Italy respectively, on U.S. charges including conspiracy to violate sanctions, money laundering and bank fraud.

On the other end of the deal was Juan Fernando Serrano, the CEO of a commodities trading startup known as Treseus with offices in Dubai, Italy and his native Spain. His whereabouts are unknown.

In electronic communications among the men last year, each side boasted of connections to powerful insiders.

“This is our mother company,” Orehkov wrote to Serrano, pasting a link to the aluminum company’s website and a link to the owner’s Wikipedia page. “He is under sanctions as well. That’s why we (are) acting from this company.”

Serrano, not to be outdone, responded that his partner was also sanctioned.

“He is one of the influence people in Venezuela. Super close to the Vice President,” he wrote, posting a link showing search results for a Venezuelan lawyer and businessman who is wanted by the U.S. on money laundering and bribery charges.

Neither alleged partner was charged in the case, nor are they identified by name in the indictment. Additionally, it’s not clear what ties, if any, Serrano really has to the Venezuelan insider he cited.

The partners

But the description of the Russian billionaire matches that of Oleg Deripaska, who was charged last month in a separate sanctions case in New York. Some of the proceeds he allegedly funneled to the U.S. were to support a Uzbekistani track and field Olympic athlete while she gave birth to their child in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan is media magnate Raul Gorrin, according to someone close to U.S. law enforcement who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Gorrin remains in Venezuela and is on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s most-wanted list for allegedly masterminding a scheme to siphon $1.2 billion from PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company.

A U.S.-based attorney for Deripaska didn’t respond to requests for comment. Gorrin declined to comment but has rejected other criminal charges against him as politically motivated.

While U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil apply only to Americans, many foreign entities and individuals with business in the U.S. stay away from transactions involving the OPEC nation for fear of being sanctioned themselves.

For that same reason, Venezuela’s oil sells at a deep discount — about 40% less than the market price, according to the indictment. But such choice terms require some unorthodox maneuvering.

For example, instead of instantly wiring funds through Western banks, payment has to take a more circuitous route.

Tanker of oil

In one transaction this year cited in the indictment — the $33 million purchase of a tanker full of Venezuelan fuel oil — the alleged co-conspirators discussed channeling payments from a front company in Dubai, named Melissa Trade, to shell accounts in Hong Kong, Australia and England. To hide the transaction, documents were allegedly falsified to describe the cargo as “whole green peas” and “bulky paddy rice.”

But as is often the case in clandestine transactions, cash appears to have been king.

“Your people can go directly to PDVSA with one of my staff and pay directly to them. There are 550,000 barrels … to load on Monday,” Serrano wrote Orekhov in a November 2021 message.

There was also discussion of dropping off millions in cash at a bank in Moscow, Evrofinance Mosnarbank, which is owned by PDVSA. It was a major conduit for trade with Russia until it was hit with U.S. sanctions in 2019. The two defendants also contemplated a possible mirror transaction whereby cash delivered to a bank in Panama would be paid out the same day at a branch of the same unnamed institution in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital.

But Orekhov’s preferred method of payment appears to be Tether, a cryptocurrency that purports to be pegged to more stable currencies like the U.S. dollar.

It’s not just financial transactions that are a challenge. Delivering the crude presents its own risk because most shipping companies and insurers won’t do business with Venezuela and other sanctioned entities. In recent years, the U.S. government has seized several tankers suspected of transporting Iranian fuel heading for Venezuela.

To obscure the oil’s origins, Orekhov and Serrano discussed instructing the Vietnamese tanker they were using to turn off its mandatory tracking system to avoid being spotted while loading in “Disneyland” — a coded reference to Venezuela.

Source: Voice of America

DUBAI, Emirates has recently activated its codeshare partnership with Batik Air, expanding choice and connectivity options for its customers with access to 25 Indonesian points on a single ticket and one baggage policy.

Under the newly activated agreement, Emirates has placed its code on 8 routes operated by Batik Air via Jakarta to – Balikpapan, Denpasar, Medan, Manado, Padang, Surakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.

In addition, via an interline agreement, Emirates customers can also easily access 17 more domestic Indonesian points via Jakarta and Denpasar, to cities such as Praya, Semarang, Sorong, and more.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Dubai Airports, the operator of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) airports, has been awarded the Best Aviation Sustainability Programme (Environment pillar) at the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Global Aviation Awards, for its ongoing efforts in helping to develop a more sustainable global aviation industry.

The award was presented at a ceremony held in Montreal, Canada, at the 41st General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently.

Dubai Airports was recognised for its efforts as a leading player in the global aviation industry in implementing its ongoing sustainability programmes. Some of these projects include the replacing of 150,000 conventional light fixtures across DXB’s terminals and airfield with significantly more efficient LED lights, introducing electric and hybrid ground service vehicles, and building a 15,000-panel solar array at DXB’s Terminal 2, the largest at any airport in the Middle East.

Commenting on Dubai Airports’ achievement, Omar Binadai, Executive Vice President of Technology & Infrastructure at Dubai Airports, said, “We are delighted to be recognised as a positive force within the industry – one that is helping to support the global aviation community on its journey to a more sustainable future, and an organisation that is both fully aligned with, and committed to, helping the UAE’s wider efforts in achieving long-term climate action goals.”

Established in 2016, the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Aviation Award aims to shine a light on countries, businesses, and individuals around the world by recognising their contribution to the success of aviation industry. This triennial award reflects UAE’s commitment to promote aviation and support to ICAO’s ‘No Country Left Behind’ initiative.

This year, the second edition of the Award was divided into three categories that represent a unique mix of aviation business, including outstanding resource contribution to ICAO programmes, best aviation sustainability programme (Environment or Socio-economic Pillars), and aircraft cabin noise-research and development category.

Source: Emirates News Agency