In response to the United Arab Emirates’ proposal to delay Expo 2020 Dubai until 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic; the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has approved the request after surpassing the required threshold of two-thirds majority vote of BIE Member States as stipulated by Article 28 of the 1928 Paris Convention. The General Assembly of the BIE began voting remotely on 24 April, based on the proposal of the Executive Committee, and will continue until 29 May. Austria, as a participating country, joins and supports the postponement decision and remains committed to delivering an experience like no other…
Author: Kasun Illankoon
Department of Municipalities and Transport has introduced 13 new services to its SmartHub digital platform, as part of its ongoing efforts to boost Abu Dhabi’s position in the global smart cities’ rankings. The 13 services fall under the vision of the Emirate’s wise leadership and Abu Dhabi government’s strategy to upgrade work systems to provide citizens and residents with advanced and easily accessible channels. Department of Municipalities and Transport firmly committed to making Abu Dhabi a premier global smart city and one key element in this strategy is the automation of services through our SmartHub platform.” The newly added services…
Uncertainty due to ambiguous laws has been identified as the top regulatory challenge facing business leaders in the UAE – that’s according to a new report “The Making of an Investment Powerhouse: The Future of the UAE’s Regulatory Framework” by international law firm Pinsent Masons. The study combines the results of a cross-sector survey, conducted prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, with in-depth, one-to-one interviews with leading experts from the energy, financial services, infrastructure, real estate and technology sectors to better understand perceived barriers to success in the market. Although a number of sector-specific issues were highlighted in the report, 40…
Musanada has announced that work on the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy Construction Project is now 50% complete. Spanning an area of 14,000 square metres, at an estimated cost of AED 157.8mn, the project is being built for the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in cooperation with several government entities and strategic partners. Furthermore, Musanada stated that the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy project involved the construction and development of the Fatima bint Mubarak Sports Academy building, including the facilities and administrative offices, design and construction of a football field and games field, in addition to the development and…
UAE-headquartered Truebell, a leading GCC importer of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), has launched two initiatives to provide food donations to both healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic on the frontline, and vulnerable residents from local communities in Dubai. The retail and food services division of the company, in partnership with Yakult – a Japanese probiotic fermented milk brand – has been donating more than 100 probiotic drinks per week to doctors and nurses working in the emergency department at Dubai’s Rashid Hospital. Bhushant J. Gandhi, Divisional Manager, Retail & Food Service, Truebell, said: “COVID-19 has impacted people more than we…
New data released by the Bahrain Tender Board, an independent regulator of government procurement practices in Bahrain, revealed that the country awarded 1,730 tenders in 2019 worth a total of US$4.9 billion. The construction and engineering services sector took the lion’s share of the awarded tenders, with 45% worth US$2.2 billion. The oil and gas sector placed second with tenders valued at US$1.2 billion or 24% of the total. The aviation sector came third accounting for 13% of awarded tenders valued at US$627 million. In the first quarter of 2020, Bahrain awarded 372 tenders worth a total of US$740 million,…
Abu Dhabi Airports is supporting global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring the safe, secure and efficient transport of essential supplies and equipment through Abu Dhabi International Airport, in addition to facilitating a number of repatriation and humanitarian flights. Abu Dhabi International Airport is the primary gateway to Abu Dhabi and a key global transit hub for passengers and airfreight, offering connections to the world’s key markets. Its specialist cargo facilities offer significant capacity for transhipments and the efficient handling of time and temperature-sensitive goods. Shareef Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “This is…
A recent analysis by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that e-retail companies in the UAE have succeeded despite the challenges of high demand due to the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and disruption of supply chain worldwide. The companies have managed to achieve benefits beyond the domestic market to include neighboring markets as well. The analysis, based on updated data from Euromonitor attributed this success to the fact that it was due to the support of government initiatives, the presence of modern infrastructure, and a strong logistical sector, which was reflected in the resilience of e-commerce in the…
Al-Futtaim has announced the launch of an innovative Web Based Crowd Management Service for its store customers to ensure they can continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines while visiting Al-Futtaim properties. The quick and convenient service was developed in response to the Dubai Government’s health and safety directives following the announcement by the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management to reopen malls and retail stores. The technology solution helps manage the flow of customers to maximum 30% of store capacity, ensuring the safety of customers and retailers. The service allows customers to either book a time slot in…
Daikin Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently announced that the “Mini VRV 5-s” air-conditioning system with climate-friendly R-32 refrigerant will soon be available in the region as the company moves to strengthen its contributions to the MEA region, following the rising environmental protection and sustainability-related initiatives. The newly developed Mini VRV 5-s was launched in Europe recently, marking a milestone in Daikin Europe’s bid to help reduce carbon emissions in the air-conditioning sector. With best-in-class design versatility, the system is the solution for the air-conditioning of smaller commercial applications and apartment buildings. Its intuitive online control and variable refrigerant temperature…