gulfindependentnews

HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, attended the six-party Arab Ministerial meeting in Riyadh on Monday, alongside his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The session delved into the  evolving situation in the Middle East , especially the Gaza crisis, it’s humanitarian and security implications, efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire and strategies to protect regional and international peace and security. During the meeting, His Highness highlighted the pressing challenges engulfing the region, emphasising the need for improved regional and international collaboration in bolstering the comprehensive peace process based on the controversial 2-state solution SEARCH The Gulf Independent REPORTS UAE minister talks pressing challenges engulfing Middle East in six-party Arab Ministerial meeting in Riyadh Published   9 hours ago   on   April 30, 2024 By   Ramez Spector   SHARE TWEET HH

According to official sources, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine have finalized the details of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa), marking the latest development in the Gulf state's aspirations to broaden its network of commercial partners across international markets. By 2031, the UAE wants to increase the amount of its non-oil overseas trade to Dh4 trillion. A joint statement was signed by Yulia Svyrydenko, the first deputy prime minister and minister of economy of Ukraine, and Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the minister of state for foreign trade for the United Arab Emirates. The ambitious UAE-Ukraine Cepa is anticipated to remove or significantly lower tariffs on important product lines, eliminate needless trade barriers, and encourage equitable market access for exporters on both sides once it is put into effect. "Ukraine provides our exporters with a bridge to Europe." In general, the agreement is expected to assist Ukraine recove

  UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed  has directed Emirati hospitals to provide medical treatment for 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip. The 16th group of Palestinians arrived on early Saturday, with 25 patients and 51 family members en route from Egypt to Zayed International Airport. Medical teams quickly transferred the injured and those in need of immediate care to hospitals, while the other cases and their companions reached their residence in the Emirates Humanitarian City. The UAE’s leadership has been providing humanitarian aid to Gazans since the beginning of the Gaza crisis, including the ‘Chivalrous Knight 3’ operation last year. The UAE has also constructed a field hospital in Gaza, with 200 beds and over 100 professionals. The field hospital recently removed a massive 5-kilogram tumor from a patient’s abdomen, removing years of serious pain and health complications. The UAE has also established a  floating hospital  to deliver essen

  HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, has pledged $40 million to the  Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund (MBZ Fund) , demonstrating the UAE’s commitment to nature and environmental conservation. Established in 2009, the Fund has been supporting grassroots species conservation programs across 170 countries. The latest contribution is set to increase the Fund’s endowment to over $70 million by 2028. Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the MBZ Fund and UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, announced the contribution at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Forum (AVPF) Global Conference 2024. The new contribution contributes to the Fund’s small grants programme, supporting direct species conservation initiatives through $25,000 per project. The program supports species listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and focuses on species classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN. The  MBZ Fund  also supports conse

  Saudi Arabia’s Vision  2030 is a transformative and ambitious plan to unlock the potential of its people and create a diversified, innovative, and world-leading nation. Launched in 2016, it has already delivered unprecedented transformation and remarkable growth in just five years. The vision centers around the development of the world’s largest green hydrogen plant at Oxagon in NEOM, with the goal of producing up to 600 tonnes of green hydrogen per day for export worldwide. This carbon-free fuel could decarbonize buses, heavy-duty trucks, and industrial processes, potentially saving the planet up to five million tonnes of CO2 annually. NGHC stands out with secured investment, construction progress, and clear production timelines, thanks to the backing of shareholders like ACWA Power, Air Products, and NEOM. Its location in NEOM provides unlimited access to solar and wind energy, powering the plant that will produce carbon-free green hydrogen.  Saudi Arabia’s unique position,  abunda

  In a  historic diplomatic exchange , H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a productive phone call with Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The two nations have enjoyed a long-standing relationship since the UAE’s formation in 1971, with Pakistan being one of the first countries to recognize the UAE. The ministers discussed avenues to enhance bilateral relations and strategic partnership, focusing on mutual interests that benefit both countries and their peoples. Over the past year, the relations between the UAE and Pakistan have shown significant growth, with trade and economic relations increasing significantly. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, and bilateral trade has been on the rise. In 2021, the UAE exported goods worth US$7.13 billion to Pakistan, while Pakistani exports reached US$1.52 billion in 2022. The two countries have also been discussing a Comprehensive Econom

  The six  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries , including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, are constantly evolving. They update policies, engage in bilateral relations discussions, and seek solutions to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Recent events in the region include the UAE experiencing unprecedented rainfall, DXB occupying the second position on the top 10 busiest airports list, and Saudi Arabia’s “Journey Through Time” master plan for AlUla. As per The World Reviews article, MoEI’s exceptional response to unprecedented weather conditions reflects the UAE’s commitment to effective crisis management and infrastructure resilience. Through proactive measures, integrated planning, and technological innovations, the nation has demonstrated its capability to mitigate risks and safeguard public safety. The Gulf state recently experienced  1.5 years of precipitation  in just 24 hours, with no connection between the cloud seeding program and the event. The UAE rank

  Sultan Haitham, the proclamational ruler of Oman, has left Muscat for a two-day state visit to the  UAE . He and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed are expected to discuss the country’s deep-rooted, historical, and fraternal relations. The leaders aim to maintain security and stability in the region and promote cooperation in various mutual interest fields. The visit aims to boost bilateral relations on various topics, including economic relations. Dr. Sayyid Al Busaidi, the Oman ambassador to the UAE, believes the visit will accelerate cooperation, integration, and partnership, ensuring more joint investment cooperation. Oman’s investment in the UAE includes financial activities, manufacturing industries, professional and technical activities, real estate, and information and communications. The most important  UAE  investments in Oman include industrial, financial, banking, tourism, real estate activities, power generation, retail trade sectors, and construction. The UAE is

  In a phone call, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed bilateral relations, cooperation, and the Middle East’s pressing crises. They reviewed recent regional and international developments, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in overcoming  global peace and stability crises . The call covered the results of the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan, which aimed to intensify efforts to achieve a peaceful solution to the raging conflict in Sudan. The conference focused on addressing the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the need for a diplomatic path to ensure a permanent truce. The  UAE  pledged $100 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan and neighboring nations, with the total aid already reaching $150 million. The UAE has provided medical, food, and relief supplies to those affected by the conflict and established a comprehensive field hospital in Chad at a cost of $20 million. The US veto of

  The UAE and Colombia have signed a  Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) , marking a significant step in their bilateral relations. The agreement aims to improve trade transactions by cutting tariffs, removing trade barriers, and improving market access for merchandise and service exports. It also aims to open investment and joint ventures in key sectors such as energy, environment, hospitality, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, and food production. The Cepa follows a 43% increase in bilateral non-oil trade in 2023, reaching an all-time high of $53.1 million. The UAE is committed to building strategic partnerships that serve mutual interests, as part of its efforts to create a prosperous and sustainable future for future generations. The Cepa is expected to open a significant chapter in bilateral relations, allowing businesses to benefit from access to each other’s markets and regions. Colombia’s technologically advanced economy is expected to provide opportunities

  The UAE-Costa Rica Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa) was signed by President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Costa Rican counterpart, HE Rodrigo Chaves Robles, in a virtual ceremony. The agreement aims to improve trade, increase private sector collaboration, and provide better investment opportunities in priority areas such as infrastructure development, energy, logistics, aviation, and tourism. The agreement is the first of its kind between Costa Rica and a Middle Eastern country, aligning with the  UAE’s strategic objective  of expanding into new markets. HE Robles expressed his delight at the signing, stating that the economic partnership can unlock trade and investment opportunities, resulting in increased prosperity for people. The Cepa is the latest agreement to be signed under the UAE’s foreign trade agenda, which aims to expand the nation’s network of trade partners, establish fresh markets for exports, and secure the nation’s status as a global gateway for

  Dubai International (DXB) has become the second  busiest airport globally  for the first time, moving up five places from its position in 2022. This achievement, driven by the visionary leadership of UAE Prime Minister and Ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, reinforces the airport’s role at the forefront of global travel and connectivity. The Airports Council International (ACI) recently unveiled its preliminary top ten  busiest airports  globally for 2023, with a total passenger forecast of almost 8.5 billion, reflecting a major recovery of 93.8% from pre-pandemic numbers. The rankings are based on data gathered from over 2,600 airports across over 180 countries and territories. Factors driving global air travel in 2023 include China’s reopening and a greater inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions. DXB’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Griffiths, expressed immense pride in DXB’s achievement, underscoring the airport’s years-long dominance in air travel. He attrib

  The UAE’s  Digital School  and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government have announced a new partnership aimed at supporting 100,000 students in need. The phase, supported by Dubai Cares, aims to improve the quality of education for tens of thousands of students over three years through advanced digital education services and methodologies. The initiative includes training digital teachers, developing a digital education platform in the Kurdish language, enhancing the region’s official education curriculum, and establishing digital education spaces within schools. The new phase also seeks to provide digital education tools, including over 1,650 computers and projectors, to facilitate effective learning environments. The partnership builds on the successes of the first phase, which began in January 2022, with both governments keen to expand ties and explore greater horizons. The first phase involved the implementation of several digital education programs and teacher training initiativ