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The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has successfully mediated another significant Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange, marking the fourth such agreement in 2024 and resulting in the release of 150 prisoners. The Russian Federation initiated a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Ministry's statement highlighted that the success of this mediation is due to the UAE's unique relationships with both countries, facilitating the agreement. Earlier, on Friday, the Russian defense ministry announced an exchange of 45 prisoners with Ukraine. A total of 75 Russian servicemen were exchanged for 75 Ukrainian troops, who have since been transferred to Kyiv through UAE mediation. Since the start of 2024, the UAE's mediation has successfully concluded three similar prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, as well as a US-Russia prisoner exchange in December 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared the news on X on May 31, stating, “Th

HH Sheikh Mohamed, President of UAE, is in China on a high-profile state visit, after concluding a trip to South Korea. He met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and opportunities to expand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The discussions took place in the Great Hall of the People. During the talks, both sides noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of UAE-China bilateral ties. The moment is seen as an opportunity to celebrate the progress made over the last decades. Sheikh Mohamed and Xi said they are committed to bolstering these ties and exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the Israel-Hamas fighting. The conflict has been raging on since October 7 and has already claimed tens of thousands of lives UAE, China sign key MoUs and agreements His Highness noted that Xi’s visit to the UAE in 2018 marked a historic milestone, culminating in the declaration of a Comprehensive S

UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed concluded his state visit to South Korea on May 29 . His high-profile trip to Seoul involved discussions with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, business leaders, and Emirati students in South Korea, among others. He is scheduled to begin a state visit to China on May 30. It comes after an invitation from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. During the visit, both leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations and opportunities for further cooperation and collaboration. The economic, developmental and cultural fields are likely to be granted more attention. His Highness is also set to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of UAE-China diplomatic relations, according to media reports. UAE remains China’s top trade partner in Arab region The UAE and China first established their diplomatic ties in 1984. The UAE has a consulate general in Hong Kong and an embassy in Beijing. China has an emb

On Wednesday, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to enhance trade and economic relations. The agreement was signed after a summit in Seoul between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is on a two-day state visit—the first by a sitting Emirati leader. Among 19 deals signed, one significant agreement is a memorandum of intent for South Korea to build at least six liquefied natural gas carriers worth approximately $1.5 billion, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News. The UAE also reaffirmed its commitment to invest around $30 billion in South Korea, an agreement initially made during President Yoon's state visit to the UAE in January of the previous year—the first such visit by a South Korean president. Both nations agreed to collaborate in various fields including investment, energy, nuclear power, defense, technology, climate change, and cultural excha

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s Upcoming State Visits to South Korea and China HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, is set to begin a high-profile state visit to South Korea on May 28, followed by a visit to China on May 30. These visits come at the invitation of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping. State Visit to South Korea During his visit to South Korea, Sheikh Mohamed will engage in discussions on bilateral relations and strategies to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and technology. Additionally, they will address regional and international developments of mutual interest. The UAE and South Korea have a long-standing partnership that began 44 years ago, characterized by cooperation in various domains such as economic development, climate change, nuclear energy, food security, cybersecurity, defense, healthcare, culture, and space. The UAE President’s visit marks a significant milestone in these relations. 

The UAE has been intensifying its focus on non-oil foreign trade , establishing government-to-government (G2G) relationships through memoranda of understanding (MoUs), comprehensive economic partnership agreements (Cepas), and free trade agreements. In 2023, the Gulf state ranked as the third-largest foreign direct investment (FDI) market globally in terms of project activity, moving up from fourth place in the previous year, according to GlobalData. Only the US and Germany ranked higher than the UAE. The UAE attracted $23 billion in FDI across 1,277 projects in key sectors such as business and professional services, financial services, and software and IT services, driven largely by the country’s investor-friendly policies. **UAE and France Sign Key MoU on AI** Recently, the UAE and France signed a significant MoU on artificial intelligence, aiming to develop the AI ecosystems of both countries through investment programs and collaborations. Both nations seek responsible A

Last month, G42, UAE’s leading AI technology holding company, and Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion strategic investment by Microsoft in G42 . This deal aims to ensure the global, responsible sharing of secure AI technologies and cloud capabilities. The investment will strengthen the collaboration between the two companies, bringing the latest Microsoft AI technologies and skilling initiatives to the UAE and beyond. Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, has joined the G42 Board of Directors. The significant Microsoft-G42 partnership has garnered global attention. Smith recently mentioned that this high-profile agreement could eventually involve the transfer of advanced chips and tools. Providing Security Assurances to Home Governments In an interview with Reuters, Smith stated that the sales accord might progress to a second phase, which includes exporting vital AI technology components like “model weights” – essential elements defining an AI model’s ability t

People who like tango dancing, get ready for a really fun time as Dubai is having its big Tango Festival . This yearly party for the cool Argentine dance is going to make the city really excited, with lots of fancy dancing, beautiful music, and an atmosphere full of energy. Main Highlights Mark Your Calendars: When It’s Happening The Dubai Tango Festival will take place for three days, giving people a fun time. Whether you’re an experienced dancer or want to try it for the first time, this event promises to be an exciting journey into the wonderful world of tango. Tango Classes: Learn New Moves One of the best parts is the tango classes taught by really good teachers from around the world. These hands-on classes will help people at all levels, giving you a chance to improve your skills, learn new moves, and understand the little details of tango. From beginner classes to advanced ones, there’s something for everyone. Dance Parties and Shows: Feel the Tango Energy Get ready

Heavy rains have battered Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, since late last month, triggering historic floods that have killed more than 150 people, while nearly 100 residents are still missing and over 500,000 have been displaced, as per Reuters. The intensified floods have been making headlines across the globe, highlighting the enormous impact of climate change on natural cycles. People have been joining hands to help the scores of flood victims in Brazil, accompanied by the Emirates. UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received a phone call on May 16 from HE Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil. During the call, he expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the people of Brazil, wishing for a speedy recovery. UAE flies relief plane for Brazil flood victims President Mohamed bin Zayed instructed the dispatch of urgent relief supplies from the UAE to support those impacted by the flooding and heavy rains in Brazil, undersco

1950 recorded the creation of about 2.3 million tonnes of plastic. But today, that figure has reached around 450 million tonnes and there are forecasts that it could double by 2050. Essentially, there is no sign that the amount being produced globally is decreasing. It is important to improve awareness of the environmental problems caused by plastic waste. Finding better ways to sort plastic refuge into its various types is key if recycling rates are to increase, not least as it makes the recycling process more financially viable. Teams from Khalifa University and Cycled Technologies are working on a method, operated by the ever-evolving artificial intelligence (AI) , to potentially help create a breakthrough in plastic recycling. The technology appears promising. Plastic recycling through near infrared spectroscopy Detailed images enable the system to identify the type of plastic that the waste is made of. The equipment contains camera for detection and a variety of mechan

Tonight is going to be fun as arch rivals Al Hilal get welcomed by Al Nassr at their home ground, the Al Awwal Park , in Riyadh, KSA. Al Hiilal is now ahead by 12 points of the latter and have clinched the cup with a win last week. Players to Watch Out For Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to tear the defences of Mitrovics team but that wouldn’t be easy due to the counterattack the opposition team has been showing this season. Al Nassr is now placed 2nd on the points table of the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr hope to continue their 8 games winning streak as they come with a 3-2 win from the previous match held against Al Akhdoud where Ronaldo had scored a goal but was outperformed by his teammate Marcelo Brozovic who scored a brace in the stoppage time to snatch the win. Marcelo was eventually titled hero of the match due to his excellent performance. Al Hilal on the other hand, is in blistering form having won 24 games continuously with the help of Aleksander Mitrovic who scored

FIFA, the big boss of football, said Qatar can host the Arab Cup tournament three more times . FIFA had a meeting in Thailand and said yes to Qatar’s ask. Qatar hosted the Arab Cup very well in 2021. That is why they get to host again in 2025, 2029, and 2033. The Qatar football team asked to host because the Arab countries need more tournaments like this. Qatar has great big stadiums for sports events. Their roads and transport are also good for helping fans get to games easily. Qatar hosting the Arab Cup again shows they are an important place for world football. Qatar Hosted Arab Cup Well in 2021 FIFA approved Qatar because they did a good job hosting the 2021 Arab Cup. The Qatar Football Association wanted to host it again. They said the Arab region needs more tournaments like this one. They also said Qatar has great facilities and infrastructure to host big sports events. A Top Place for Global Sports Events Qatar has become a leading place in the world for organizing m

Further reinforcing its position as a leading economic hub, Dubai in the UAE ranked Number 1 overall in global Greenfield FDI projects attraction in 2023, the third successive year it has achieved this ranking, according to the Financial Times Ltd’s “fDi Markets” data. The numbers support the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, launched in early 2023 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to double the size of the megacity’s economy by 2033. The global FDI performance highlights Dubai’s attractiveness to international investors. Last year, the city lured 1,070 global Greenfield FDI projects, 142% more than second-placed Singapore (442) and 148% more than London in the third place (431). Dubai securing top ranking in global Greenfield FDI Underscoring its appeal as a headquarters destination, the burgeoning emirate ranked Number 1 across the globe for HQ FDI projects for the second successive year, after attracting a su

Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo prioritizes thorough self-assessment to maintain peak performance. He recently entered a partnership with WHOOP , a prominent tech company headquartered in Boston, USA, taking on roles as an investor and global ambassador. The collaboration between Ronaldo and WHOOP was revealed through an Instagram Live session with the company's CEO, Will Ahmed. While specific financial details haven't been disclosed, this deal is touted as one of Ronaldo's most substantial investments yet. WHOOP is known for its cutting-edge fitness and health wearables, offering comprehensive insights into sleep quality, physical strain, recovery, and overall health—a feature the company claims sets it apart in the market. Ronaldo, known for his relentless pursuit of excellence, is set to contribute to product development initiatives alongside other athlete investors and ambassadors like Patrick Mahomes, Eli Manning, and Michael Phelps. Simultaneous

The UAE ranked as the third-largest foreign direct investment market globally in terms of project activity last year, moving up from fourth position the previous year, according to the latest report by data and analytics company GlobalData. The country attracted $23 billion of FDI in 1,277 projects spanning key sectors including business and professional services, software and IT services and financial services. It has been possible through its investor-friendly policies. Speaking to The National on the sidelines of the 2024 AIM Congress, Glenn Barklie, principal economist and head of FDI services at GlobalData, said: “The UAE is just one of those places where it is almost a real safe haven for investors, and investors continue to come.” UAE deepening focus on economic diversification Barklie highlighted a “domino effect” in foreign direct investments, where a couple of companies come in, they are seen as successful, other companies think ‘I am going to come in and get a p

Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, the UAE's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure , recently participated in the "Green Molecules and Hydrogen" session at the World Economic Forum hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During this session, he emphasized the UAE's commitment to balancing economic growth and environmental protection through the utilization of low-carbon solutions, as reported by the official media agency. Al Mazrouei highlighted the UAE's National Hydrogen Strategy 2050, aimed at bolstering low-carbon industries, advancing climate neutrality, and positioning the nation as a leading hydrogen producer by 2031. At the forum themed "Global Collaboration, Growth, and Energy for Development," he outlined plans to produce 1.4 million tons of low-emission hydrogen annually by 2031 and 15 million tons annually by mid-century. The UAE's focus on climate change and sustainability extends beyond hydrogen initiatives. Al Mazrouei discussed key

Global survey respondents have helped prepare a list of the “most prestigious countries”, ruled by the UAE in the Middle East, according to US News & World Report, 2023. The ranking takes into account a number of factors. Check out the methodology here. Calling Oman and Saudi Arabia as its neighbours, the UAE is a federation of seven emirates. Six of these states merged in 1971 to form the nation and a seventh one joined the next year. Lately, the Gulf state has been setting milestones and substantially diversifying its economy. Prior to the discovery of oil, the UAE’s economy primarily depended on fishing and a pearl industry. But as oil exports started in the 1960s, its economy rapidly transformed. Today, the UAE’s per capita GDP is comparable to some of the leading European nations. UAE elevating quality of life for all, records tourism boost The UAE is one of the Gulf region’s most liberal countries, featuring a constitution that paves the way for freedom of religi

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, received HE Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister of Turkey , on Thursday. They discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields as part of strategic ties that unite both countries.The same day, Fidan and UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed held key discussions in the UAE capital during working dinner. They stressed the importance of securing a ceasefire in the Gaza crisis and limiting the suffering of Palestinians. The UAE and Turkey share robust economic ties – a major factor that also remained high on the agenda. HH Sheikh Abdullah highlighted the steady increase in the volume of non-oil trade between the nations, a number increasing by 103.7% last year. Turkey’s share in the Emirates’ total foreign trade increased to 5.1% in 2023, making it the fastest growing among the Gulf state’s top ten trading partners. This has been possible due to the Cepa inked on March 3, which entered into force on September 1 of the sam

The UAE ranked as the third-largest foreign direct investment market globally in terms of project activity last year, moving up from fourth position the previous year, according to the latest report by data and analytics company GlobalData. The country attracted $23 billion of FDI in 1,277 projects spanning key sectors including business and professional services, software and IT services and financial services. It has been possible through its investor-friendly policies. Speaking to The National on the sidelines of the 2024 AIM Congress, Glenn Barklie, principal economist and head of FDI services at GlobalData, said: “The UAE is just one of those places where it is almost a real safe haven for investors, and investors continue to come.” UAE deepening focus on economic diversification Barklie highlighted a “domino effect” in foreign direct investments, where a couple of companies come in, they are seen as successful, other companies think ‘I am going to come in and get a p

In a recent development, UAE’s sovereign investment fund Mubadala Capital has announced a sizeable $13.5 billion investment in the biofuels sector of Brazil – a key bioethanol producer, contributing one-fifth of the total global output. The initiative is part of a broader strategy for Brazil and also includes the construction of five processing units, each valued at $2.7 billion and capable of producing 20,000 barrels of biofuel every day. The first unit is expected to start operations by 2026. Mubadala CIO Oscar Fahlgren, also the head of the entity’s Brazilian operations, said: “It is all about feedstock [which] in reality is agriculture … Brazil is probably the best-placed country … when it comes to agricultural proficiency because of the climate and the fertile soil.” Mubadala Capital to open stock exchange in Brazil The planned biofuel investment will also be used to convert an existing oil refinery in Bahia into a biofuel facility. Despite recent challenges such as g

The CEOs of the top two Gulf airlines —Emirates based in Dubai and Qatar based in Doha—are eager to increase their share of traffic rights following Abu Dhabi's Etihad, which quadrupled its access into India through an equity deal with Jet Airways. Emirates' president, Tim Clark, sees the Indian government's favor toward Etihad as a decisive move in this direction. On the other hand, Qatar Airways' CEO, Akbar Al Baker, seeks a review of air capacity in India but is not currently interested in acquiring stakes in Indian carriers. Emirates Airlines, one of the UAE's flag carriers, is led by CEO HH Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum. It ranks as the world's fourth-largest airline by scheduled revenue passenger-kilometers flown and boasts the largest fleet of Airbus A380s, with 123 aircraft in service. Qatar Airways, Qatar's flag carrier, operates a fleet of over 200 aircraft and employs more than 43,000 people. Engr. Badr Al Meer is the CEO. The airline was es

Cristiano Ronaldo marked another milestone in his career by scoring a hat-trick for his team Al Nassr to win against Al Waheda with a score of 6-0 at Al-Awwal Stadium in Riyadh in the 2023-2024 Saudi Pro-league match. Al-Fatil also marked its strong performance while Otavio and Sadio Mane marked their scores on the scoreboard. In the second minute when Mane passed the ball to Ronaldo shot the ball but he missed, unfortunately he missed the target. After three minutes Ronaldo again got the chance and taking advantage of the mistake made by the Al Wehda goalkeeper Ronaldo shot the goal and scored for his team giving the team the lead in the match. Later after seven minutes, Ronaldo scored his goal which crossed the right from Brozovic marking his 40th goal for the club of the season. A Sneak Peak of the Match Odion Ighalo shot a goal past Ospina and Al Wehda considered it as a goal and thought they scored but to their surprise, the ball was ruled offside because Odion starte

Dubai is all set to hold the first-ever Red Fashion Week. It will be held from the 16th of May to the 18th of May on Ummahat Island at the St.Regis Red Sea Resort, which is surrounded by the water of Ummahat Islands. This Red Sea Fashion Week has been organized by the Saudi Fashion Commission. It will feature both international and local designers. The main focus of this event is to celebrate the mix of modern designs and traditional Saudi styles. One of the most exciting parts of this event will be the involvement of 100 Saudi Brands, a project led by the fashion commission to promote and support budding talents. In 2023, Saudi Arabia held its first fashion week in Riyadh. It happened in the King Abdullah Financial District from 20 October to 23 October 2023 and marked the beginning of Riyadh’s journey as the fashion hub in the Middle East. Glimpse of First Fashion Week In Saudi Arabia 2023 Saudi Arabia hosted its first-ever Riyadh Fashion Week from 20 October to 22 Octob

This is the first time that Al Wakrah have made it to the Qatar Cup final and on their second successive appearance in the tournament. The team got the better of Al Sadd in the semi-final 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a crazy 2-2 tie. Earlier, the opponent seemed to be getting nearer to victory as they led 2-0 at halftime – supported by goals in the 11th minute and 27th minute by Akram Afif and Gonzalo Plata, respectively. But things started getting more interesting later on. The halftime ended to see Ayoub Assal striking in the 73rd minute and Jacinto Dala scoring a brilliant goal in added time (90+3 minutes). By the 75th minute of the game, it had already started to pour. Still, a lot had to unfold soon. Qatar Cup 2024 semi-final penalty shootout In the 87th minute, Al Wakrah heaved a sigh of relief as a penalty decision got overruled after a video assistant referee (VAR) check. Later on, one of the stars of the match, Dala, made a sublime strike from outside the box,

On International Labour Day 2024, also known as May Day , the Union Association for Human Rights commended the UAE's global leadership in ensuring safe, fair, and dignified working conditions for everyone. The association highlighted the UAE's effective regulations, laws, and initiatives, which have established a comprehensive and distinctive system safeguarding people's rights and meeting international human rights obligations, as reported by official media sources. Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al Kaabi, the association's president, praised the UAE's dedication to creating a holistic system that protects workers' human and social rights, reflecting the nation's visionary leadership. She underscored the significance of UAE's initiatives in leveraging all resources to enhance working conditions for everyone, aiming to achieve key objectives that solidify the country's position as a global leader in labor rights. Dr. Al Kaabi also noted the UAE's