His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said service to the nation is a key value that has been instilled among Emiratis, who constantly demonstrate their patriotism through initiatives and actions to enhance the welfare of the community.

His Highness’s comment came as he honoured the winners of the Dubai Appreciation Award for Community Service at a ceremony that took place at Expo 2020 Dubai in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; and Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Public Security in Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award.

His Highness praised the contributions of all those who were honoured at the award ceremony describing them as inspiring role models for service to the community. Such service has a positive impact on society, enhances social solidarity and helps create a brighter future for the nation, Sheikh Mohammed noted.

Retired Maj. Gen. Mohammed Saeed Al Marri, Secretary General of the Dubai Police Consultancy Council for Community Service delivered a keynote speech at the ceremony. He said recognition programmes such as the Award help to inspire members of the community to give back to society.

In the individual category, His Highness honoured Khalaf Al Habtoor, the late Saeed bin Ahmed bin Nasser Al Lootah (award received by his son Saleh Saeed Lootah) and Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Ghurair (award received on his behalf by his son Abdulaziz Al Ghurair) with the Community Service Necklace.

Individuals honoured at the event included Khalfan bin Lahaj who was awarded the Community Service Badge, and Ahmed Al Baloushi who was awarded the Community Service Medal.

In the corporate category, His Highness honoured INDEX Holding and Al Ansari Exchange.

The Award ceremony was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; and senior officials of Dubai government entities.

Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan thanked His Highness for supporting the Award and commended the outstanding social contributions of those who were honoured at the ceremony.

The Dubai Appreciation Award for Community Service, launched in 2013, honours individuals, private companies and institutions who demonstrate exceptional commitment to social responsibility and serve the community through initiatives and actions in the areas of social welfare, health, education and other fields in Dubai, without regard for profit or personal gain.

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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, presided over a swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed judges in Dubai Courts.

The ceremony, held at Expo 2020 Dubai in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, saw five first instance court judges and judicial inspectors taking the oath to faithfully and impartially administer justice and perform duties under the observed laws.

Sheikh Mohammed wished the judges success in their new mission and urged them to abide by the values of impartiality and integrity and to respect individuals’ human rights and dignity.

Also attending were H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, a number of ministers and heads of local departments in Dubai.

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“I have been working in the UAE for 10 consecutive years and I am very happy that the benevolent governance of this country, as well as the leadership, have a real humanitarian role in giving an insurance provider to the patient – by law or otherwise. I feel it’s a very kind gesture that is happening continuously,” says Dr. Vinod Thampi Narayanan, a neurologist who also is Chief Executive Officer of Ahalia Medical Group and ergo, simultaneously a full-time consultant in Neurology and the Director of Medical Sciences in Neurosciences in his group. 

“I could honestly say that the best part of my career as a medical administrator at the CEO level, which I have been holding for the last 14 years, and as a practitioner with the head of neurology that I have gain for more than a decade, is the insurance coverage for patients,” Dr. Vinod says.

He said insurance coverage for patients makes it more attractive for doctors to practice in the UAE. “Back in our home countries, patients spend for their diagnosis, the radiological laboratory investigations, the doctor consultation fees, cross references and the medicines from the pharmacy, from their own pocket,” Dr. Vinod said.

However, he said the situation is a lot different in the UAE where approximately 85% of the population are expatriates from over 200 countries across the world.

In the same vein, Dr. Vinod said: “I wish the screening of diseases (in the field of) oncology as well as genetic diseases also be taken seriously by the employers, the employees, the HR of organizations, the insurance companies, the third-party administrators, and finally the Department and Ministry of Health in this country, so much so that, if these things also are included among the insurance coverages, we will be able to serve a much bigger population with the same expertise and infrastructure.”

Dr. Vinod comes from a family of engineers. “My grandfathers, both of them, my dad, my brother, all were engineers, and they excell in their professions. I took inspiration from the community to understand that medicine was my method.

“Right from the age of 17, when I joined medical school, I have wanted to become a neurologist. So, I was very clear about choosing my specialization. I took the medical profession very seriously.”

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 15th edition of Al Dhafrah Festival’s Competitions will commence tomorrow, at Madinet Zayed, Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi.

Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee, Al Dhafra Festival, which will run 22nd until January, reflects the sustained efforts made by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to enhance the UAE’s global position in heritage preservation.

Major General Staff Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police, and Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee, said, “Al Dhafra Festival embodies the approach adopted by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as the premier destination for camel owners locally, regionally and internationally.”

“In line with the Emirate’s vision to preserve UAE heritage, and quintessential Emirati customs and traditions, including the preservation of purebred camels, Al Dhafra Festival has become synonymous with the great cultural achievements made. The Festival exemplifies the tireless efforts made to protect the nation’s time-honoured legacy, attract heritage enthusiasts, and convey the UAE’s message of peace and tolerance to the entire world.”

He highlighted the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Patron of the Festival, and the follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, being the driving force behind accelerating the projects and initiatives aimed at promoting the UAE’s national identity and inculcating the nation’s authentic values and traditions.

For his part, Issa Saif Al Mazrouei, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, highlighted the directives of the Festival’s patron, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to expand Al Dhafra Festival by including camel pageantries in Suwayhan, Razin and Madinet Zayd, in addition to the principal Camel Beauty Contest of Al Dhafrah Festival.

“Coinciding with the UAE’ Golden Jubilee Celebrations, the Festival’s activities now run from 28th October, 2021, to 22nd January, 2022, as part of the Abu Dhabi Camel Auction Season. The festival features 313 camel runs and this new edition of the event includes the launch of the Bairaq Al Emarat Award for Asayel and Majahim camel breeds. For the first time in mazayna competitions, prizes will be based on a new points system. The festival’s 15th edition also witnesses new races for camel mazayna in two categories; hybrid and Wadh,” he added.

He noted that the Festival also supports those interested in traditional Arabian Saluki races, Falcon Mazayna, Arabian Saluki Mazayna, Archery, Ghanam Al Naim Mazayna (sheep beauty pageant).

Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, Director of the Committee’s Planning and Projects Department, explained that Al Dhafra Festival features multi-faceted heritage activities and contests, primarily the Camel Beauty Pageant, which this year includes 82 rounds for Asayel, Majahim, hybrid Asayel and Wadh. This is in addition to the six-round Mahaleb Competition and nine heritage contests that celebrate the legacy of our ancestors and founding fathers, including traditional Arabian Saluki Race, Falcon Mazayna, Arabian Saluki Mazayna, Ghanam Al Naim Mazayn and Archery, together with Arab bazaars of Saluki, mazyna dates, happiness sheep bazaar, shooting contest, sour milk contest, and other functions.

Al Mazroui urged the participants and visitors to comply with all COVID-19 countermeasures put in place by the competent authorities.

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has won the American Ideas bronze award in the category of Outstanding Innovation Achievement, thanks to its Licensing Intelligent Operations Centre initiative.

The award is presented by the American Idea Foundation, a specialist in evaluating and honouring international entities and companies for their outstanding initiatives and innovative ideas.

“RTA won the award for its excellence in the ‘Innovation Achievement’ category, on account of the Licensing Intelligent Operations Centre initiative. The Centre has three sections: Drivers Licensing Operations, Vehicles Licensing Support, and Smart Monitoring and focuses on improving transport and traffic safety and reducing accidents and fatalities by strengthening the oversight of driving institutes and enhancing the environmental sustainability of transportation,” said Sultan Al Marzooqi, Director of Drivers Licensing at RTA’s Licensing Agency.

“At the Drivers Licensing Operations section in the centre, we seek to improve and sustain smart solutions and services through adopting smart techniques developed, which also endeavours to cement the relationship with service providers and strategic partners. The section was established to carry out numerous operational tasks, including drivers’ training and testing services, whereby 2,700 driving instructors, examiners and supervisors currently work. The number of tests reaches up to 2,500 per day through 2,222 testing and training institute vehicles and 4,000 training hours per day,” Al Marzooqi added.

The section also supervises driver licensing services and provides support to 242 partners and service providers, including driving institutes, eyesight testing centres, hospitals and medical centres providing health fitness examinations for professional drivers.

Al Marzooqi explained that the Licensing Intelligent Operations Centre succeeded in reducing the time of signing-off testing complaints from one day to two hours, as well as reducing the response time to road testing emergencies from two hours to 10 minutes.

The centre also contributed to supporting and speeding up decision-making processes by reducing the time spent collecting data through integrating supporting electronic systems and directly linking to the systems of driving institutes.

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The new closing schedule of the Floating Bridge in Dubai corresponds to the UAE’s adoption of the new workweek.

This six-lane bridge, opened in 2007, carries 6,000 cars per hour during rush hour on two identical mirrored decks that span the whole Dubai Creek.

Timings starting Jan 15, 2022

Monday to Friday, 10pm to 6am

Saturday at 10pm till Monday at 6am

Due to an increase in coronavirus infections, Emirates airline has restricted its onboard lounges and social facilities for passengers on board its A380 aircraft.

According to the statement of Emirates spokesperson to Khaleej Times, “In light of health and safety considerations, Emirates has temporarily modified some aspects of our onboard service. Our onboard lounge and the social area will not be available to customers at this time.”

The airline, which has reopened 90 percent of its pre-pandemic network and flies to over 120 locations across the world from its hub in Dubai, previously announced in December that its members will have access to over 120 lounges by February 2022.

The Ministry of Defense announced today the launch of the ‘Joint Emirates Shield / 50’ military drill west of the Maritime Theater of the UAE, which will continue until January 14.

The exercise is part of a series of operational drills slated for 2022 and aims to boost the combat readiness of the UAE Armed Forces’ major units.

Major General Saleh Mohammed bin Mujren Al Ameri, Commander of the Joint Operations, said: “This exercise is a true translation of the advanced level notched by the UAE Armed Forces in terms of their air, ground, and sea-based capabilities, to protect the nation’s gains and potential in various operational environments.

“We are proud of the country’s achievements achieved in the military field over fifty years in times of peace and war. We bet on our military capabilities, which have become the focus of attention and appreciation of the world, thanks to the directives and unswerving follow-up by the UAE wise leadership.”

The organisation of the “Joint Emirates Shield / 50” is aimed to consolidate the combat readiness of the UAE Armed Forces’ to defend the land, naval and air borders of the UAE against any dangers or future challenges under all circumstances and at all times.

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DUBAI – Saudi authorities have released a princess and her daughter who had been detained without charge for nearly three years, her legal advisor said on Saturday.

Princess Basmah Bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, 57, a businesswoman, rights activist and member of the royal family, went missing in March 2019 along with her adult daughter Souhoud Al Sharif.

“The two ladies were released from their arbitrary imprisonment, and arrived at their home in Jeddah on Thursday 6th January, 2022,” her legal advisor Henri Estramant said.

“The princess is doing fine but will be seeking medical expertise,” Estramant added. “She seems worn out but is in good spirits, and thankful to reunite with her sons in person.”

The Saudi government media office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The government has never publicly commented about the case.

In 2020, Princess Basmah said via her social media channels that she had been held in the capital Riyadh for more than a year and was sick.

The youngest child of the late King Saud, Princess Basmah has been critical of the kingdom’s treatment of women.

She had been due to travel abroad for medical treatment around the time of her arrest in late February 2019, and was informed after her detention that she was accused of trying to forge a passport, a close relative said at the time.

The charges were later dropped, but she remained imprisoned along with her daughter who was with her at the time, the relative said.

Princess Basmah said in her social media posts about her detention that she had been kept in Al-Ha’ir prison.

Reuters was unable to verify independently the circumstances of her disappearance and detention.

Reuters also could not establish whether her arrest was linked to past detentions of Saudi royals and prominent citizens that sources have tied to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power or crackdown on dissent, including women’s rights activists.In a petition submitted to the United Nations, dated March 5 2020 and seen by Reuters, the princess’s family suggested the reason for her detention might be her role “as an outspoken critic of abuses in our country of birth, but likewise for … enquiring about the frozen fortune left (by) her father”. —Reuters

Expo 2020 Dubai’s upcoming Travel and Connectivity Week from 9-16 January will convene leading industry figures, innovators and policymakers around digitalisation and connectivity as a universal human right and force for good in a changed world.

Highlights include the Travel and Connectivity Week Business Forum, which kicks off at 0900 GST on Tuesday, 11 January, at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020. Speakers at the hybrid event will include Tewolde Gebremariam, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines and Andres Sutt, Estonia Minister for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology.

Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce; Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), and Mohannad Samara, Director, Business Development & Strategic Projects, Etisalat are also slated to appear.

The sixth of 10 Theme Weeks under Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet, Travel and Connectivity Week comes almost two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began to upend global travel, transforming our approach to connectivity in the 21st century.

Underpinned by the belief that connectivity not only brings us all closer together but is the bedrock of healthy and empowered societies, the Week is co-curated with Expo 2020 Premier Partners Emirates and Etisalat, its programming targeting key issues for global policy-makers, business and agents of change alike.

The Nexus, home to the Programme for People and Planet, of which the 10 Theme Weeks are a key pillar, will see numerous events throughout the week – from a three-hour tech innovation session titled ‘Age of Disruption’ (Tuesday, 12 January) to ‘Cultures in Conversation: A Cloud is Nobody’s’ (Friday, 15 January).

The Women’s Pavilion will also host various events, including a World Majlis on ‘Closing the Digital Gender Gap’ (Monday, 10 January) and a two-hour event ‘Super (S)heroes: How Arab and Muslim Women Use Media to Connect and Shatter Stereotypes’ (Thursday, 13 January).

Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet offers an exchange of inspiring new perspectives to address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time.