Category: Latest News

  • Abu Dhabi International Airport adopts precautionary measures to reduce spread of coronavirus

    Abu Dhabi International Airport adopts precautionary measures to reduce spread of coronavirus

    ABU DHABI, 9th July, 2020: Airports in Abu Dhabi have adopted a series of precautionary and preventive measures in all their facilities, to protect the health and safety of their employees and passengers and reduce the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19, while national carriers are gradually resuming their flights through Abu Dhabi International Airport.

    Mohammed Hussain Ahmed, General Manager for Abu Dhabi International Airport, said that the procedures adopted by the airport include contactless control equipment in elevators, self-sanitising escalators, and the use of modern technologies and Artificial Intelligence, AI, in the sanitation processes, in addition to social distancing and the donning of face masks and gloves.

    Ahmed stressed that Etihad Airways has adopted precautionary on-board measures according to the highest standards, all passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi must pass through a comprehensive assessment zone to track those exposed to confirmed coronavirus cases.Passengers will then have to undergo a PCR test, which is fast and efficient and will last from five to ten minutes, he further added.

    Smart sanitising gates The journey of passengers will begin by passing through smart sanitising gates at the airport’s main entrances and exits, which will firstly measure a person’s temperature.Contact-less elevators The second step consists of 53 elevators equipped with contactless control systems.

    Before passengers can continue their trip, they will receive face masks and gloves provided by the airport through several smart devices. passengers will be screened by thermal monitoring cameras that will verify whether they are wearing face masks and gloves as instructed, and will alert officials if they are not complying with these instructions.

    passengers will reach the airport’s arrival registration area to complete their procedures online. They can also use the Etihad smart application to limit direct contact.The arrival of passengers at the self-service platform for registration, Facial recognition technology will assess the health and safety of the passengers, including their temperature, heart rate and breathing rate.

    Business class lounge The seventh step, which applies to business class passengers, requires employees of the business class lounge to wear personal protection equipment. The reception desk of the lounge will also feature barriers and separators, and tables will be separated by a distance of two metres while meals are tested individually through random testing.

    Thermal checkpoints equipped with cameras, which checks the temperature of passengers and verifies if they are wearing face masks.Boarding pass  procedures of passengers. Social distancing rules will be adopted by allowing limited numbers of passengers to board at one time. They will also be asked to scan their boarding passes and show their passports, to limit direct interaction with employees.

    Linda Celestino, Vice President of Guest Services at Etihad Airways, said that the implementation of social distancing onboard planes will involve leaving a space between seats on flights to most destinations, but families and groups can sit together.

    She added that if a passenger or staff becomes ill during a flight, they will be isolated in a quarantine area with several reserved seats at the back of the plane, and health authorities will be notified before the plane lands.Flight crews will wear face masks, disposable gloves and accredited preventive clothing, and planes will be cleaned after reaching every destination, Celestino further added, noting that health and safety tools will be provided to passengers by Etihad’s staff, such as face masks, gloves and sanitisers.

    Attila Sagi, Senior Manager Technical Advisor, Midfield Terminal Programme at Etihad Airways, said that Etihad Airways have developed a technology to enable contactless travel procedures, through the launch of the “Fit to Travel” device, which will check the temperature, heart rate and breathing rate of passengers, ask them about their previous 14 days, and require them to declare if they are fit to travel.

    If the device does not declare whether a passenger is fit to travel, they will be referred to a mid-air medical team for examination, he added.(News with thanks from WAM)

  • UAE creates opportunities for its citizens: Sarah Al Amiri

    UAE creates opportunities for its citizens: Sarah Al Amiri

    ABU DHABI, 9th July, 2020  Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and Science Lead of the Emirates Mars Mission, stated that the UAE creates opportunities for its citizens before they even dream of them, noting that this should encourage everyone to work hard to reinforce the country’s leadership and preserve its overall achievements.

    She added that the Hope Probe will begin its historic mission to Mars at 00:51:27 after midnight UAE time on Wednesday, 15th July, 2020, from the Tanegashima Space Station in Japan.

    During a remote media interview held today, Al Amiri revealed that the probe’s scientific mission is expected to start in April 2021, and the mission’s team currently works 12 hours per day. The mission is a journey filled with challenges since its launch six years ago, as well as knowledge and learning, she added.

    She thanked the UAE’s leadership on behalf of the probe’s team for giving them this unique opportunity and noted that they are all proud to be part of the project, and explained that the design of a satellite to explore Mars was not easy, and their challenges increased as they progressed.

    Al Amiri also stressed that the mission’s land control station is currently testing control scenarios before the launch of the probe.

    The Hope Probe, which is expected to reach Mars in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, is a national project that highlights the vision of the UAE’s leadership to establish an Emirati space programme, which will reflect the country’s commitment to promoting international cooperation and partnerships in finding solutions to global challenges for the well-being of humankind.

    The Hope Probe which will send a message of hope to the peoples of the world aims to revive the rich Arab and Islamic history in the area of science, and affirms the UAE ambitions to defy the impossible and shape a bright future for humanity.(News with Tanks WAM) —

  • Deputy Ruler of Sharjah  Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi died in London

    Deputy Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi died in London

    SHARJAH, 9th July 2020  Today, the Emirate of Sharjah bade farewell to the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan bin Saqr bin Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, who was born in 1948 in Sharjah and is one of the sons of the former ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

    In addition to his position as deputy ruler to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the late was the Chairman of the Sharjah Oil Council and Honourary Chairman of Dana Gas. He also sat on the board of director of the Sharjah Liquefaction Gas Company (Shalco).

    Believing in the capabilities of young people, and that the future was theirs, Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi had supported this segment of the community in various fields of work with all the wisdom he possessed; he was their role model giving them all needed advice and expertise so that they could prove themselves in the development march.

    With the departure of Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sharjah loses one of its main pillars, a figure of giving, loyalty and tolerance.

  • ‘People’s response to COVID-19 in UAE reminds me of British unity in World War II,’ says doctor

    ‘People’s response to COVID-19 in UAE reminds me of British unity in World War II,’ says doctor

    A senior British doctor who is in the UAE’s frontline battle against COVID-19 said the pandemic reinforced his faith in humanity, despite the despair and challenges it unfolded.

    “Inside and outside the hospitals across the UAE, it is amazing to see everyone pulling together, irrespective of one’s nationality, class or creed, to fight the pandemic,” said Dr. Malcom D. Podmore, Consultant orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at Al Ain Hospital in Al Ain, which is under Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

    “This reminds me of British people forming a united front in the Second World War. It demonstrates how a crisis brings out the best in human beings.”

    The doctor, who has set aside his regular orthopaedic practice since March to assist his colleagues treating COVID-19 patients, was sharing his new experiences with Emirates News Agency, WAM.

    “In our hospital, not only the medical staff such as nurses and doctors, but all others, including para-medics, cleaners, kitchen workers and security personnel, support each other to give extra time and efforts,” he explained.

    Sharing an example, he said that one day he forgot [being preoccupied] to bring his food to the hospital. “I was surprised to find that somebody had already ordered food for me. There are other people thinking about you. Likewise, everyone pays attention to others.”

    Similarly, outside the hospitals, the government agencies, charities and community groups are offering food and other support to the needy. “I can see that the entire nation is together in this mission.”

    This is the most challenging situation in his 28-year long career. “But it also the most hopeful situation as well because human beings are rising to the occasion and doing their best.”

    The pandemic has also reinforced his belief in having accurate and open communication with the family members of the critically ill patients.

    “I always believed in it [communication], when I speak to some patients’ relatives, I understand their grief and fear. They appreciate my effort to explain the medical terms of the condition in a simple language. This gave me a chance to sit back and think about how the situation affects the families of the patients. I feel that, we as doctors, have to always readjust ourselves and find time to talk to the families of the patients,” Dr. Podmore explained.

    About the role of medical infrastructure to deal with the pandemic, he said, the supply chain of medication, personal protective equipment for frontline medical staff, and life-support systems such as ventilators is very crucial.

    “In the UAE, that supply chain was intact and efficient,” the doctor said, pointing out that even in many developed countries there was a shortage of supply. “It was an extremely good effort on the part of everyone involved.”

    A UAE resident for more than two years, it is his first time living in a Middle Eastern county. When he visited the UAE for his job interview, it was his first visit to the region.

    “It is the first time I have lived in a Muslim country. It is very interesting to see how different religions and cultures closely interact here,” Dr. Podmore added.

    “As I did not know much about Islam, I have read a lot to understand the religion. The most important thing I experienced here is tolerance; there is no animosity among religions here. My family also like the place,” he said.

  • UAE strongly condemns terror attack in west Kabul, Afghanistan

    UAE strongly condemns terror attack in west Kabul, Afghanistan

    The UAE has strongly condemned the bomb attack that targeted a mosque in the west of the Afghan capital Kabul that resulted in the death and wounding of dozens of innocent civilians.

    In a statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation emphasised that the UAE utterly condemns these criminal acts and rejects all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilising security and stability in contravention of religious and human values and principles.

    The Ministry also expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous criminal act and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

    Read in Urdu

  • Dubai Chamber webinar series promotes emirate as ideal hub for African businesses

    Dubai Chamber webinar series promotes emirate as ideal hub for African businesses

    The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that it recently kicked off a webinar series providing African business leaders and entrepreneurs with useful information about doing business in Dubai, and promoting Dubai as an ideal hub for African companies.

    The Benefits of Doing Business in Dubai series was organised by the Chamber’s representative offices in Africa and attended by 175 participants from several African countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique and Kenya, among others.

    The first webinar, held earlier this month in cooperation with Bizzmossis Service Company, looked at why the current timing is ideal for investing and setting up a business in Dubai, highlighting the advantages and offerings of various free zones throughout the emirate.

    Upcoming webinars will provide participants with detailed information on Dubai’s key economic sectors and business landscape, and guidance on everything from opening a bank account, to residency visas, business licenses and freelancing.

    A survey conducted during the first webinar found that 72 percent of participants said they would be keen on investing in Dubai, while 41 percent stated they are looking to set up a business in the emirate within the next three months.

    The first webinar included presentations and speeches from Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber; Marianna Bulbuc – CEO and Founder of Bizzmosis; Zemedeneh Negatu – Global Chairman Fairfax Africa Fund; and Norvan Acquah – Hayford – Public Relations Manager at Ghana Link Network Services.

    For his part, Omar Khan encouraged the African business community to explore the vast competitive advantages and incentives offered to businesses in Dubai, and pointed out that the emirate’s business community has remained resilient amid the Covid-19 situation, thanks to its early adoption of digital infrastructure and vital support from the government.

    He noted that the webinar series complements Dubai Chamber’s efforts to promote Dubai as a global business hub and attract African companies to the emirate, while it also provides valuable insights to help participants make informed decisions about entering the Dubai market. He added that the Chamber’s offices in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Mozambique are always ready to assist businesses across the continent with any questions they may have.

    Read in Urdu

  • UAE National Happiness Programme launches mental health hotline

    UAE National Happiness Programme launches mental health hotline

    The UAE National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing has announced the launch of a mental health hotline to support individuals’ mental health and psychological wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The hotline, titled ‘Mental Support Line’, aims to provide initial psychological counselling and support to community members, via the cooperation of volunteer mental health experts, consultants and specialists.

    The toll-free support line, 800-4673 (HOPE), will enable individuals to reach out via telephone calls or the social network messaging app ‘Whatsapp’. The service is available in Arabic and English.

    Commenting on the announcement, Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, highlighted the importance of supporting individuals with mental health conditions, particularly in light of the impact COVID-19 has had on the mental health and psychological wellbeing of individuals.

    She expressed her thanks and appreciation to all the consultants and psychologists who volunteered their time and efforts to provide mental health support services via the ‘Mental Support Line’.

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  • Hamdan bin Mohammed reviews progress of work on AED2 billion Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project

    Hamdan bin Mohammed reviews progress of work on AED2 billion Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project

    H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, reviewed the progress of work on the AED2 billion Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan also opened new flyovers at the intersection of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road.

    Aligned with Dubai’s strategic transport plan, the project underscores Dubai’s keenness to pursue vital projects supporting the economy. The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, opened four bridges spanning 2,600 metres at the junction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road of two lanes in each direction to further enhance smooth traffic movement in all directions. It also opened a two lane 220-metre bridge at the junction of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road along with two connecting roads facilitating U-Turns for motorists coming from Dubai.

    Upon arrival at the intersection of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road, Sheikh Hamdan was received by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. Sheikh Hamdan was briefed by Al Tayer on the Dubai-Al Ain Project, aimed at improving traffic flow, enhancing the link with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Emirates Road and the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.

    The improvements serve existing and future projects on both sides of the Dubai-Al Ain Road and double the road’s capacity from 6,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour per direction. The project will also cut the journey time on Dubai-Al Ain Road, from Bu Kadra junction to Emirates Road junction, from 16 to 8 minutes. Benefiting 1.5 million people, the project will eliminate tailbacks that used to extend two kilometres.

    Al Tayer explained that the total capacity of bridges at the junction of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road will increase to 36,000 vehicles per hour per direction, which will streamline traffic movement from Al Qusais on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in the direction of Al Ain.

    RTA has opened four flyovers of two lanes in each direction extending 2,600 metres at the junction of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road to ensure free traffic flow in all directions at the junction. It also previously developed a bridge on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to enable the widening of Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction and constructed service roads on both sides of the Road. It also completed the construction of a 220-metre bridge of two lanes on the junction of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Dubai-Al Ain Road to create a U-Turn for motorists coming from Dubai.

    The improvement of the Dubai-Al Ain Road Project extends 17 km from the intersection of Dubai-Al Ain Road with Emirates Road to the intersection of Bu Kadra with Ras Al Khor Street. It covers the construction of service roads on both sides to boost traffic safety. Overall, the project includes six junctions to improve the traffic flow and serve communities on both sides of the road such as the Silicon Oasis, Dubailand, Liwan, Meydan and Dubai Design District. Flyovers extend 6,600 metres and ramps extend 4,900 metres in total.

    Work is currently underway at the intersection of the Dubai-Al Ain Road with Emirates Road, the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, Nad Al Sheba Road, Al Meydan Road, Ras Al Khor Street and the intersection between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road.

    The project works include the construction of other junctions including the intersection with Emirates Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. It also includes linking the existing Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and its extension, which was opened in March 2018 with a flyover of four lanes in each direction crossing Dubai-Al Ain Road that can be widened to five lanes in future. The existing flyover will be upgraded to serve the traffic from Dubailand Westwards to Dubai-Al Ain in the direction of Dubai. A flyover will be constructed to serve the traffic from Dubai heading northwards to the Academic City and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The project also includes the development of service roads on both sides of the road and U-Turns to serve other movements and development projects.

    The project supports the development of Nad Al Sheba to serve traffic on the Dubai-Al Ain Road from and to Nad Al Sheba area, in addition to improvements to inward and outward surface roads in the area. Also included in the project is the Al Meydan Street’s junction with Dubai-Al Ain Road and the work to link it with Al Manama Street. A flyover of four lanes in each direction will be constructed to link Al Meydan Street and Al Manama Street. The existing bridge on Al Meydan Road and Dubai-Al Ain Road will be upgraded to serve Meydan development projects.

    Read in Urdu

  • UAE leaders congratulate President Putin on Russia Day

    UAE leaders congratulate President Putin on Russia Day

    President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory message to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Russia Day.

    His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also sent similar messages to the Russian President.

    Read in urdu:https://www.urduweekly.com/?p=1680