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Emirates to operate double daily flights to Seychelles for the holiday season

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Emirates has announced it will operate double daily flights to Seychelles from Dec. 24, 2021 to  January 9, 2022 to serve market demand during the busy holiday season.

The added service will offer customers more travel choices, flexibility and enhanced connectivity to the island-nation.

Emirates currently operates a daily flight to Seychelles utilizing its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The second daily service will boost tourism to the popular Indian Ocean destination this winter holiday, especially from popular inbound markets including France, Germany, U.K., Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, U.S., UAE, and KSA.

From Jan. 10,  2022, the airline will serve the country with 10 weekly flights, including a double daily service on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Earlier this year, Emirates renewed its commitment to Seychelles by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Seychelles Tourism Board at Expo 2020. The agreement reaffirms the airline’s commitment to the island-nation, and outlines various initiatives to promote trade and tourism to the country.

Self-driving taxis ‘TXAI’ to transport passengers on Yas Island

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Abu Dhabi residents can now travel on a driverless taxi around the clock via the application, TXAI, available on Google Play and IOS App Store.

In his statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Hassan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat for Mapping and Surveying Services, a subsidiary of Group 42, said the first pilot phase of the driverless taxi was launched in Yas Island and will conclude on 23rd December, adding the public may use the application for free during this period.

He added Abu Dhabi residents can reserve rides as soon as they download the application by following the instructions that appear on screen, noting they must be in nine locations in Yas island to book a trip.

The second phase of the initiative will involve increasing passenger transport operations, by operating over 10 vehicles in different areas around Abu Dhabi, he further added.

The current fleet of TXAI vehicles consists entirely of electric and hybrid cars, which will help reduce carbon emissions, he noted.

Bayanat, which specialises in geospatial systems, data analysis and artificial intelligence, recently announced its new fleet of driverless vehicles under the TXAI brand, which represents the first fully-automated taxis in the UAE.

WAM

UAE enhances water access for 18,000 Filipinos in rural areas of Central Philippines

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The UAE Initiative, Beyond2020, returns to Southeast Asia following key sustainable engagements in Indonesia and Cambodia, with a deployment that is uplifting the lives of 18,000 people in the Philippines by enhancing water access and reducing water costs by 85%.

Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, said, “As a wide-reaching humanitarian initiative spearheaded by the UAE government and its wise leadership to drive sustainable economic growth globally, Beyond2020 offers crucial and life-transforming solutions to beneficiaries worldwide. The initiative’s deployment in the Philippines offers communities innovative water technology solutions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of rural residents through long-term impact, paving the way for an easier, safer and more sustainable lifestyle.”

Al Zaabi added, “The UAE and the Philippines share a common vision towards building a more prosperous and sustainable future for their people, in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, the collaboration complements our historically close bilateral relations across multiple avenues. By tackling water scarcity, the drive to further optimise a vital resource for the benefit of communities in the Philippines, also coincides with the recent launch of the UAE’s ‘Principles of the 50’ that seek to stimulate socio-economic growth through humanitarian aid. They are important guiding principles inspired by the enduring legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, based on his core values of sustainability, humanitarianism and global cooperation.”

The Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, for her part said, “We are pleased to see the introduction of these essential, environmentally-friendly and life-changing solutions by the Beyond2020 initiative. The notable reach and impact of the technology supports the Philippine government’s drive to improve public services and the health of our citizens, with water being a key priority for social welfare and sustainable development.”

“We are confident that the mobilization of international action that empowers and supports our communities’ ability to access and manage water resources will promote widespread benefits to the daily lives of impacted beneficiaries. We therefore extend our gratitude to the initiative and its partners whose involvement has been central to the realization of the project on the ground today.”

Four hydraulic ram pumps and 13 kiosks are being used to facilitate 3,000 residents in the village of Cabagnaan in the Province of Negros Occidental and 15,000 people in 14 villages across Altavista in the Province of Leyte.

The communities of Cabagnaan and Altavista, that are located on different islands, share the same challenges, whereby water is not available and has to be fetched from a source located further downhill from the community. The deployment utilises a holistic ram pump water system by the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI), a 2020 Zayed Sustainability Prize finalist under the ‘Water’ category.

The innovative technology is an enhancement of a system created more than 240 years ago that brings water uphill without the use of electricity or fuel and the emission of harmful gasses.

Launched by the Zayed Sustainability Prize in partnership with several leading organisations, the Beyond2020 initiative exemplifies the humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by donating sustainable technologies and solutions to vulnerable communities worldwide. The Philippines marks the tenth deployment of Beyond2020, which effectively addresses some of the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges, by providing quality healthcare, nutritious food, essential energy, and access to safe water for drinking and sanitation.

Ólafur Grímsson, Chair of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Jury and former President of the Republic of Iceland, said, “Beyond2020’s latest project in the Philippines demonstrates the power of leveraging an innovative solution by our global community of winners and finalists and exploring its long-term capacity for beneficiaries. The initiative also demonstrates the power of collaboration as the Prize and its partners have impacted communities in 10 countries to-date, with further deployments scheduled for 2022.”

In addition to providing clean water for drinking and sanitation, the carbon-neutral technology offers residents the opportunity to improve or pursue water-related livelihoods such as vegetable gardens, aquaculture, and livestock breeding, while facilitating a more conducive environment to avoid several waterborne diseases stemming from dirty water. Furthermore, access to improved hygiene grows in prominence given the importance of handwashing in preventing the spread of COVID-19, which is a pressing concern for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Ten deployments have been rolled out to date under the umbrella of Beyond2020, with another nine in progress. Completed deployments include vital energy, health, water and food-related solutions in Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Jordan, Egypt, Cambodia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Beyond2020 brings together a leading number of partners, which include Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mubadala Petroleum and Masdar.

Expo 2020 Dubai visit numbers pass 7 million mark

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Expo 2020 Dubai visit numbers have increased significantly to a total of 7,167,591 visits in the period up to 20th December, as organisers continue to maintain robust COVID-19 measures, ensuring a safe and exceptional event for all attending.

Expo 2020’s virtual visitation rose to 31.6 million over the same period, mainly driven by the uptake of Live@Expo, which enables visitors to take a bespoke live virtual tour through the site.

The largest major global event to be held since the start of the pandemic, Expo 2020’s latest COVID-19 measures include the expansion of the number of on-site PCR testing facilities to four, and free testing for all Country Pavilion staff. While all frontline workers and entertainers continue to be tested on a regular basis, some close contact events, such as parades and roving entertainers, have been temporarily suspended as a short-term precautionary measure.

With more than 90 percent of the UAE population fully vaccinated, Expo 2020 Dubai has required mandatory vaccination and boosters of all Expo and International Participant staff, volunteers, contractors and service providers. Visitors ages 18 and above are required to present proof of any vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. In addition, Expo 2020 maintains on site sanitisation stations and mandatory face-masks both indoor and outdoor.

Among the latest activities, Expo 2020 Dubai was honoured to receive a great footballer and Expo Ambassador Lionel Messi; electrifying science show Brainiac Live and plenty more live entertainment, buoyed by enthusiastic uptake of the Expo 2020 Festive Pass.

Knowledge & Learning Week, the latest engrossing Theme Week under Expo’s Programme for People and Planet, presented a three-day global education summit, a number of World Majlis events, an interactive workshop-style event around experiential learning, and a Business Forum on harnessing and challenging today’s knowledge to better prepare for the future.

The seasonal spirit has been felt across the entire Expo site ahead of 25 December, with the unmissable Christmas tree at Al Wasl Plaza lit up in a special ceremony on 18 December, and all kinds of ongoing yuletide events, activities and shopping, plus a full menu of festive food and drink options, all delighting visitors.

Expo’s programme of live concerts during the next seven days glitters with a truly international cast, including Dina Stars and Apo & The Apostles (23rd December, Jubilee Park), Egyptian entertainer Tamer Hosny (23rd December, Jubilee Park), Grigoryan Chant and Naia Izumi (24th December, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre), London Community Gospel Choir (24th and 25th December, Jubilee Park and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre respectively), Lea Salonga (25th December, Jubilee Park), and Kazakh National Ballet (23rd December, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre)

WAM

RTA’s 108th open auction for premium plates yields AED36m

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The 108th Open Auction for Distinctive Vehicle Number Plates held by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City on 18th December has raised AED36.548 million.

The number Q 22 achieved the highest price value, as this number was sold for AED 5,000,000 followed by the number Z 31 for AED 2,820,000. The number V10000 was auctioned for AED920,000, number W500 for AED840,000, while number O66666, which was sold for AED840,000.

RTA offered 100 fancy plates for bidding in this auction comprising of two, three, four and five-digits of categories (K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-T-U-V-W-X-Z).

By offering distinctive licensing plates at open or online auctions, RTA is keen to follow an effective strategy based on well-thought-out plans and based on the type of vehicle. From impartiality, transparency, and equal opportunities for fans of special numbers, who seek to acquire them through the Authority’s auctions, because any of these distinguished numbers represent important occasions, symbols, events and milestones in their lives.

These auctions are of great importance to the authority because they meet the aspirations and desires of a large segment of the public, hence the authority seeks to organise them according to the needs of the market, to make this category of dealers happy and to raise their level of satisfaction. The high turnout in these auctions indicates a positive competition among the participants to obtain these distinguished numbers.

WAM

RTA announces operation of E-Scooter in 10 Dubai Districts from Q1 2022

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The move responds to the endorsement of E-Scooter Policy by the Executive Council

Al Tayer: E-Scooters made Half a million trips during the trial run phase, 23 districts will be added during Phase II

Roads and Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the start of civil site works for the infrastructure of the operation of the Electric Scooter in preparation for the launch of Phase I of the project, which would cover 10 Dubai districts and start operation in the first quarter of 2022.

The step responds to the Executive Council’s endorsement of the shared mobility plan and the supporting e-scooter policy. It culminates the huge success of the trial run phase of the e-scooter, which started in October 2020 in 5 key areas of Dubai. Until the end of September, e-scooters have made about half a million trips. RTA plans to expand the use and tracks of e-scooters to include specific residential areas, and 23 new districts later on.

“The initial phase covers Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Internet City, Al Rigga, 2nd of December Street (specified track and zone), The Palm Jumeirah, and City Walk. It also covered safe roads in Al Qusais, Al Mankhool, and Al Karama communities as well as cycling tracks except for the cycling tracks of Seih Al Salam, Al Qudra, and Meydan,” said Al Tayer.

“The selection of these districts was guided by specific criteria, such as high population density, special development areas, areas served by metro stations and mass transportation, the availability of integrated infrastructure, and areas with a high level of traffic safety.

“The operation of the e-scooter is part of Dubai Government’s efforts to improve the quality of life and make residents happier, shift towards sustainable transport and make Dubai the preferred place to live and work as well as the preferred and the safest destination for visitors. RTA calls for adopting a healthy and active lifestyle through providing for an integrated and efficient transportation network in the Emirate. It also seeks to provide multiple transportation options for users, in accordance with top international practices that place Dubai among the leading countries in this field,” explained Al Tayer.

Successful Experience

“The trial operation of the e-scooter proved successful as a suitable means for individual commuting over short distances and first and last-mile trips. The customers’ satisfaction rating of the experiment reached 82%. RTA, in coordination with Dubai Police, examined several international models and experiences of major cities in operating e-scooters, such that it can choose the most appropriate model for Dubai,” noted Al Tayer.

“RTA also conducted many benchmarking studies of e-scooter operations with a variety of international cities such as London, Paris, New York, Berlin, and Singapore. We have identified the key elements of streamlining the operation of shared and personalised E-Scooters. Such studies were based on four main aspects: the user, the electric scooter, the road and the business model with the operating companies,” he commented.

Avoiding Unfinished Tracks

RTA called on the public to avoid using electric scooters on tracks that are still under construction to avoid mishaps. Infrastructure works for e-scooters in new districts is proceeding according to plan. Works are nearing completion in the placement of traffic and directional signs for e-scooters at the best international specifications and standards of traffic safety.

Over the past months, RTA conducted technical studies and user surveys to screen the views of service users and their observations for the project improvement. Periodic meetings were held with Dubai Police and operating companies. Field visits were carried out to verify the work in the new area to ensure their readiness before opening them for e-scooter users. RTA also unleashed several initiatives to encourage road users to use e-scooters, as they are environmentally friendly and suitable for short trips and first and last-mile trips that facilitate access to and from mass transit stations.

Safety Stipulations

The e-scooter is permitted to operate under strict guidelines and designated tracks. The rider and the renter must comply with the rules and regulations set by RTA, which are aligned with the traffic rules law. They govern the use of e-scooters and the associated traffic safety stipulations such as the wearing of the protective helmet. The e-scooter must be parked at designated places and must not be left in places that trigger traffic bottlenecks. Riders must ride cautiously and avoid causing traffic risks to other road users. They must comply with all instructions and regulations relating to the areas where e-scooter riding is permitted, as mentioned in the apps designed for operators.

Emirati businessman Al Futtaim dies

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Business tycoon Majid Al Futtaim passed away. The news of his death was announced on Friday.

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has expressed condolences on the passing of veteran UAE businessman Majid Al Futtaim.

Majid Al Futtaim, a man of endless goodness, who never stopped giving back to his nation, recently employed 3,000 Emiratis. May his soul rest in peace,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

In the Middle East and North Africa, Al Futtaim operates shopping malls, retail establishments and leisure parks in 13 countries. 

Image Credit: Twitter/@UAENews

AK ANGELS: Empowered women of the 21st century

THE ETHREAL STORY OF A.K ANGELS

The perfect time has come for some innovations in the real-estate industry, where “angels” empower the sales and marketing field.

In this age of digitalized connectivity, a group of beauties called AK Angels was formed by a prolific and generous prime mover, Kai Gonzales, who trains every member of the staff for the task.   

The diverse eminence of each “angel” serves to accomplish the goal of informing people inform individuals about destinies and aspirations.  

Fots et Origo

The AK Angels are from various backgrounds who have come together to combine their knowledge and leadership skills in view of helping people secure their future.

These “angels” play an essential role in educating people about financial literacy and the value of an investment.

Commitment is their number one instrument to promote financial security through real estate. They always believe in the magic of dreams and fulfillment. These are part of their missions to guide people through.  

 The AK Angels innovate their strategies to do promotions based on facts. The information and details are well-sorted and researched, supported with rigorous training by internationally acclaimed sales directors.

  • Mission

The mission started with the aim of helping professionals secure their future by enlightening them on what suits their needs.

From the Philippines, the staff at AK Angels flew to the UAE to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFW) make good use of the fruits of their labor and grow them to become progressive investments.

The primary role of AK Angels is to educate OFWs help in the field of being money-wise.

Visionary

It all started with Kai Gonzales, Shoe Mart Development Corporation (SMDC) sales director, who has always advocated for OFWs.

Part of the team’s marketing campaign is to set no boundaries as they collaborate with the finest, most innovative, and most successful Filipinos in Dubai for an extravagant photoshoot.

The theme of the said photoshoot is “Ethereal Angels.” It symbolizes that the team is composed of empowered women who can make a vast difference in many lives. They are set as the protector, guru, and key for a brighter tomorrow.

The greatest and optimum designers behind the scene are Michael Cinco, Ezra Santos, Ryan Pacioles, Garimon Escandor Roferos. While Jha Jha Rivera, Kerwin Solo and Josh Sanvictores Lorenzo do the fierce and classy make-up.

Photography and Videography is brilliantly shoot by Jef Anog and Mangemong Abad. On the other hand, Adronico Del Rosario of Art for Sake arrange the set design while Badz Nazareth is the creative director.

Trust ‘the good guys’ plan for your future investment. To avail their free consultation services, you can reach them through akprimeholding@gmail.com or like and follow them at https://www.facebook.com/akprimeholdings

Scientists in UAE develop an electric mask that kills viruses

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University scientists in the UAE have developed an electric mask that kills viruses.

The device is fitted with two electrodes on either side of a mask that zap viruses. Either way, they destroy or neutralize them.

Currently, Dr. Mahmoud Al Ahmad who led the University team patented the idea and is now looking for investors to produce the mask and make it sold in a cheap price. 

The device resembles an electric strip that can be attached to a variety of basic masks.

According to Dr. Al Ahmad, these masks can be multi-layered. “One layer will have electrodes, and there will be spacing between these electrodes to allow for breathing,” he explained.

Robotaxis are set to become autonomous in the future

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Driverless cabs pick up and drop off passengers at nine pre-determined locations on Yas Island.

Mustafa, the safety officer, is taking part in a driverless cab trial in Abu Dhabi, where customers can be picked up and dropped off at nine pre-determined locations on Yas Island.

So far, it’s been a “smooth ride,” according to Mustafa, with no major incidents necessitating major intervention.

Abu Dhabi is not the only member of the UAE envisioning a future without drivers.

Dubai says it wants 25% of its transportation to be driverless by 2030, reducing costs, pollution, and accidents.

Image credit: Dubai OFW