From Foreign Waters

  The UAE's National Immunisation Programme has been hailed as a major success story by Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, assistant undersecretary for the Public Health Sector. The programme, which has been in place for several years, has made the UAE a world leader in vaccinations, with a high rate of coverage among the population. Dr Al Rand said that the National Immunisation Programme has become one of the most effective prevention strategies in the world, and is now being looked at as a model for other countries to follow. The programme provides vaccinations against a range of diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, polio, and influenza. The success of the National Immunisation Programme can be attributed to several factors. One of the key factors is the government's commitment to public health, which has led to significant investment in healthcare infrastructure and resources. This has included the development of a sophisticated electronic database to t

  India has made a significant effort to increase the number of people who can take advantage of the UAE' s 1% import duty reduction on gold. These imports are accessible to bullion traders in India in addition to gold producers and retailers, which could quickly increase demand for gold from the UAE. This indicates that going forward, gold traders will also profit by importing their needs at a rate of 14% rather than the 15% tax levied on shipments from other nations. Coming as it did just before the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic and Partnership Agreement (CEPA) pact going into force on May 1 speaks volumes about the timing of the announcement by the Indian government. The UAE 's first CEPA trade and investment agreements were with India, and during the past year, there have been significant advancements in transaction flows across industries. One of the largest categories to benefit most from the UAE-India CEPA was the gold trade. 120 tonnes of gold were imp

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Cambodia have reached agreement on the conditions of a bilateral trade agreement in order to improve trade and commerce links, particularly in Asia According to a statement released by the UAE state news agency WAM, the two nations wrapped up negotiations for the trade pact, known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership pact (CEPA), within six months of its introduction. Notably, when the CEPA is put into effect, numerous tariffs on Cambodian agricultural items, leather products, and clothes and footwear will be removed, creating a new market for the UAE's manufacturing and industrial sectors. According to Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE's minister for foreign trade, "Cambodia's food production and agricultural sectors, which are crucial to their economy, will also help us achieve our food security ambitions." Moreover, a crucial component of the UAE's economic development strategy, which intends to double the size of the economy

  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister, Vice President and the Defence Minister of the United ArabEmirates (UAE) as well as the Ruler of Dubai, has announced that the UAE will conduct the new moon mission. On Wednesday, the UAE Prime Minister said that the UAE would try to land a rover on the Moon again. Dubai’s ruler said that his country would embark on a second attempt to land a rover on the Moon. His comments came after his rover crashed during the first attempted lunar landing on Tuesday. The UAE leader visited the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on Wednesday. The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai said that the UAE would reach the lunar surface. He further announced the development of Rashid 2, which will be sent to space. According to the state news agency WAM, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid met the team leading the UAE's mission to the moon. He lauded their efforts and wished them success. The team attempted to land a rover on the lunar

  The healthcare industry is changing rapidly and healthcare providers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are at the forefront of this transformation. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), UAE' s healthcare providers are harnessing the power of this technology to improve patient care and outcomes. AI is transforming healthcare in several ways, from helping providers diagnose diseases more accurately and quickly, to streamlining administrative tasks and improving patient outcomes. UAE's healthcare providers are leveraging AI in many innovative ways to achieve these goals. One significant area where AI is making a difference is in medical diagnosis. By analyzing vast amounts of patient data, AI algorithms can detect patterns and trends that might not be immediately visible to human doctors. This can lead to more accurate and timely diagnoses, which in turn can lead to better patient outcomes. Another area where AI is being used is in improving patient safety. With the hel

  Before being removed from a worldwide watchdog's 'grey' list, the UAE needs more time to show that its policies against financial crime are working and being enforced, the economics minister told Reuters. The UAE was listed on the Financial Action Task Force's "grey list"—a group of countries that require greater monitoring—just over a year ago. In response, the UAE stated that it was determined to work closely with FATF to advance. "We have dealt with numerous difficulties. However, a lot of effectiveness must be shown right away, and I believe it will take time, according to Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al-Marri, who was speaking in London at the City Week conference. Marri said that the UAE had successfully addressed the majority of the 58 initial FATF issues and had only about 15 outstanding. "We've been able to close a few of them, and I believe there will be more in the coming months." The UAE, an oil and gas producer that pro

   Since deadly clashes hit Sudan eleven days back on April 15, the UAE has been closely monitoring the situation while pushing for a political dialogue to settle the crisis. Over a joint phone call on April 15 with Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, and Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed the situation in conflict-stricken Sudan and noted the importance of ensuring cooperation to end escalation, protect civilians, and push for peace. In a separate call the same day with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, discussed developments in Sudan and reaffirmed the Emirates' support for all efforts aimed at ending the clashes and initiating a political dialogue to settle the crisis. In the latest development, the top UAE diplomat praised Saudi Arabia during

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi , has sent a message of congratulations to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone on their Independence Day. This act of diplomacy highlights the importance of building stronger relationships between nations and promoting mutual respect and understanding. But President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was not alone in extending his congratulations to President Julius Maada Bio. The Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai also dispatched similar messages of goodwill, reflecting the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to promoting strong ties with other countries. This diplomatic gesture is not only significant for Sierra Leone but also for the global community. By recognizing the importance of international relations and reaching out to other leaders on special occasions like Independence Day, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai have shown their dedicatio

  Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla and Twitter has congratulated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on observations of Mars's moon Deimos made by its Hope probe. Recently, an Emirati-built spacecraft captured the mysterious moon. The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), a UAE space agency, released a series of ground-breaking observations of the moon. It was reportedly Mars’ small moon known as Deimos. The observations were shared at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, the capital of Austria. The images showed Deimos’ makeup and structure. Hessa Al Matroushi, EMM Science Lead, said, “We are unsure of the origins of both Phobos and Deimos.” EMM also observed Mars’ larger companion, Phobos. EMM Science Lead further said, “The two moons, especially the more rarely observed Deimos, have the potential to unlock new understanding of Mars’ satellites.” Emirati social media influencer Hassan Sajwani congratulated the UAE for discovering Mars’ smaller moon, Deimos. Subsequently,

  Last week, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had a fruitful meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE and was centered around exploring ways to further enhance the friendly relations between the two countries. As a Sri Lankan, I am thrilled to see this diplomatic initiative being taken by our country's representative to the UAE. The UAE has always been a crucial partner of Sri Lanka in the Gulf region, and this meeting marks an important milestone towards strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations. During the meeting, the discussions were mainly focused on avenues to further enhance the friendly relations between the two countries. The Sri Lankan ambassador acknowledged the fact that there are more than 3,00,000 Sri Lankans working and residing in the UAE, making them a significant contributor to t

  The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant’s Unit 2 is back online, providing continuous clean electricity to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is a significant milestone for the UAE's energy sector and the country's commitment to clean energy. The restart of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant ’s Unit 2 is a testament to the UAE's commitment to sustainability and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The UAE is a leading nation in the region's transition to clean energy and has set ambitious targets for reducing its carbon footprint. Nuclear energy has been a controversial topic for decades, with concerns about safety and the potential risks of nuclear disasters. However, the UAE's approach to nuclear energy is a model for other nations to follow. The UAE has taken extensive precautions to ensure the safety and security of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and its operations. The plant uses advanced technology and modern safety measures to prevent accidents and minimize th

  According to recent reports, the United Arab Emirates has witnessed a significant increase in Emiratis joining the private sector workforce in the first quarter of 2023. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) has disclosed that over 10,500 Emiratis joined the private sector in the first three months of 2023, marking an 11 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This increase in Emiratis joining the private sector workforce is a promising development for the UAE's economy, as the government has been pushing for more Emirati participation in the private sector for several years now. In 2022, the UAE launched the National Program for Emiratization, with a goal of increasing the percentage of Emiratis in the private sector to 5 percent by 2021 and 10 percent by 2025. The rise in Emiratis joining the private sector workforce can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing emphasis on creating more job opportunities for UAE nationals,

  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the best place in the Middle East and Africa region for food security, according to a new report by data and analytics company GlobalData. According to the report, the UAE has the ability to navigate supply chain disruptions. The UAE also has the lowest risk among 56 countries in the Middle East and Africa region in terms of supply chain disruption, rising inflation, food insecurity and rising debt. The GlobalData Country Risk Index (GCRI) noted that UAE ranks first in countries in the Middle East and Africa region because the country has the lowest risk in terms of food security. The UAE is also ranked tenth in the GlobalData Country Risk Index (GCRI). The company gave ranking to countries after analysing macroeconomics, political, social, technological, environmental and legal data of various countries. Bindi Patel, an economic research analyst at GlobalData, reportedly said, "Many countries in the MEA region are heavily dependent on food imp

  In times of crisis, it is the responsibility of the global community to come together and provide support to those in need. The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has been at the forefront of such efforts, working tirelessly to provide humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable communities across the world. Recently, the ERC conducted a heartwarming initiative to provide entertainment for 150 orphans and children with cancer in Latakia governorate in northwestern Syria on the first day of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. This initiative was conducted in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent as part of the UAE’s relief efforts to help families affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Syria and neighboring Turkiye. The initiative was aimed at bringing joy and happiness to the lives of these children who have been struggling with health challenges and the aftermath of the earthquake. The children were provided with an array of activities, including games, music, and food, which helped to