Day: February 27, 2022

ABU DHABI, Tadej Pogacar used the 7th and final stage of the UAE Tour, 148 km starting from Al Ain and finishing uphill at Jebel Hafeet (10.9 km at 6.8% average gradient), to extend his impressive winning streak.

By beating Adam Yates (Ineos-Grenadiers) at the end of an intense duel, the Slovenian took his third consecutive victory at Jebel Hafeet and repeated the overall victory of the UAE Tour.

The win tally for Pogacar already in 2022 rises to three, while for UAE Team Emirates the victory count rises to 8.

Before the summit, UAE Team Emirates put in a huge team effort to put their leader in place.

Pogacar moved to the front only 3 km from the finish to follow an intense attack from Adam Yates. The duo were subsequently joined by Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) and João Almedia, with the latter able to make a counterattack, before being neutralised shortly after.

Yates found the energy to go again, but the Slovenian of UAE Team Emirates resisted with determination, passing the British rider in a two-up sprint.

Almeida to a good 4th place (+15 “) and good placement also for Majka (7th at 16″), results that led the Portuguese to finish the UAE Tour in 5th place in the general classification (+55 ” from Pogacar) and the Polish in 6 ^ (+ 1’24 “).

UAE Team Emirates also finished top of the team rankings.

Pogacar said, “I am delighted to have won the UAE Tour and to have conquered the finish line of Jebel Hafeet for the third time. It is a climb that suits my characteristics well, with steep slopes and a technical final stretch.

“In the final, with Almeida in the leading group, we set ourselves the goal of winning the stage, so João also tried to take advantage of his good condition to attack and get the win. However, Yates was on a great day and yolk him back: at that point, I concentrated on following him and winning the sprint.”

“Winning the UAE Tour is very important for our team, it’s fantastic to be able to celebrate with our sponsors: I thank everyone for the great contribution made this week,” he added.

Pogacar had the double honour of being officially presented with his golden visa, along with Team Principal Mauro Gianetti, for their contribution to sport in the UAE. The Slovenian is the first sportsperson to have such an award bestowed on him in the UAE.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) has organised an entertainment event (Free Flying for Talking Birds) at Abu Dhabi Rehabilitation Centre at Al Mafraq city, within the framework of the community partnership between ZHO and the local community, and in conjunction with the month of innovation (UAE Innovates).

During the event, live shows were presented to a number of different birds which are characterised by bright colours and have the ability to imitate sounds in front of the audience, especially people of determination and their families. The festival also witnessed the participation of amateur pet breeders from all emirates, in addition to a group of interactive art workshops, live performances and competitions with the participation of many partners supported by different private and governmental entities.

The objective of the festival is to support the establishment of a sensory garden for the treatment of people of determination project, as it develops their social and mental capabilities and contributes to enhance their communication and interaction with others through the interaction with animals of different types and plants. The festival also aims to highlight the talent and hobbies and to attract people of determination and their families to everything that is new and innovative.

Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination also aims through this festival to empower people of determination in the community by engaging them with the society members, enhancing their self-confidence, and introducing visitors from all emirates of the country to the ZHO’s programmes and services.

The festival programme included the main show of birds, a performance by the military band, artistic workshops, a performance of the African percussion band, among others. The festivals also included a set of corners for entrepreneurs with determination, and a corner to display a group of butterflies.

The event was sponsored by the Emirates Group for Talking Birds.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Meta, in partnership with The Entrepreneurial Nation, announced the launch of ‘Boost with Facebook’ programme for the first time in the UAE, to support the achievement of the initiative’s goal to attract and support startups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the country.

The Entrepreneurial Nation, a project by the Ministry of Economy, aims to offer support through a series of public-private partnerships that help entrepreneurs set up their ventures in the UAE and expand them, export their products and tap into digital marketing and sales. Through the initiative, the UAE aims to become home to 20 Unicorns, or startups valued at more than $1 billion, by 2031. The programme encompasses three stages or tracks – the Skill-Up Academy, the Scale-Up programme and the Start-Up track.

Dr. Hassan Alsayegh, Director of SMEs Development at the Ministry of Economy, said, “The partnership with META is in line with our vision to create a support mechanism for the UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. META is a key enabler of SMEs in the UAE, and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership to empower the sector.”

By joining the initiative, Meta is helping with the digitisation of the UAE’s business community and supporting the government in transforming the country as the Entrepreneurial Nation of the world.

The ‘Boost with Facebook’ initiative kicked off with a virtual workshop recently. The session offered training to SMBs on how they can activate their social commerce activities on Meta platforms, for instance, how to create a virtual Storefront with Shops; how to reach the right audience with Personalised Ads; and creative tips to boost profiles on Instagram, among others.

Those who attended the workshop got the chance to learn about The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative and draw inspiration from the success of other UAE small businesses namely Mamalu Kitchen and Project Chaiwala, who have effectively capitalised on the potential of Meta platforms to improve business performance. At the end of the session, SMBs were given an opportunity to connect with Meta experts as part of a live Q&A and seek advice on how to navigate today’s digital-first world.

Azzam Alameddin, Public Policy Director for Middle East, North Africa & Turkey at Meta, commented, “We are excited to be part of The Entrepreneurial Nation initiative through our ‘Boost with Facebook’ programme and upcoming opportunities this year. We have an important role to play, providing the necessary digital skills for startups and small businesses to recover and achieve results online. We are continuing those training efforts in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy, helping further boost a burgeoning start-up ecosystem to positively impact socio-economic growth in the UAE.”

SMBs are the backbone of the UAE economy. There are around 350,000 SMBs in the country, accounting for 86 percent of the labour force in the private sector and making up over 60 percent of GDP, according to TDRA. The government has introduced economic support packages to help business owners weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE has also adopted a wide array of measures to create a more attractive environment for foreign investment including revamped visa and residency system,and 100 percent foreign ownership in addition to updating numerous laws and launching initiatives such as the Entrepreneurial Nation.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) organised a virtual forum titled ‘The Future of Autonomous Vessels in Maritime Shipping’ as part of its activities during the Innovation Month, held under the theme ‘UAE Innovates 2022’ Representatives from various sectors of the regional and global maritime industry such as A-Navigation, have tackled developing autonomous vessel technologies worldwide.

Speakers discussed the need to empower maritime operations and ensure efficient port management with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and new technologies.

They also highlighted the advantages of autonomous vessels from the operations, environment and safety perspectives, the added value of such ships to the industry as well as the accompanying challenges, especially in light of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the shipping sector. Participants also underlined the importance of strategic partnerships in developing autonomous vessel technologies and automating marine operations to benefit the shipping sector worldwide.

Hassan Mohammed Juma Al-Mansoori, Under-Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs, MoEI said: “At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we promote the UAE leadership’s objective of adopting digital solutions and keeping pace with the latest global developments, especially in the maritime sector. These efforts have contributed to enhancing the UAE’s global competitiveness in the sector. The country ranks 3rd globally in transport services trade and the Bunker Supply Index. Our ports are among the top 10 internationally, in terms of container handling capacity. We were pleased with the participation seen in this forum that discussed the latest developments and key challenges in autonomous and remote-controlled ship technologies, and their role in ensuring uninterrupted supply of vital goods, especially during global crises. The Ministry seeks to cooperate with the relevant bodies and organisations to develop legislation and laws that regulate the design, construction and operation of such vessels, while also ensuring their suitability for the marine environment.”

The UAE has over 20 leading international seaports and some of the largest oil export ports in the world. It is the headquarters of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, the developer of Maqta Gateway, the UAE’s first digital port community powered by blockchain.

The country is also home to DP World, the leading enabler of smart trade, which has launched several innovative platforms and products that have reshaped the international supply chain. These include Dubai Trade, a one-stop shop for cross-border trade and SeaRates, which provides instant and live rates for container shipping.

The company recently launched CARGOES.com, a platform that provides integrated solutions for financing and shipping goods around the world. Additionally, DP World has transported more than 10,000 containers through the BoxBay intelligent High Bay Storage (HBS) system and, in partnership with Hyperloop One, it is developing a high-speed ‘Cargospeed’ system to transport goods in pods that move inside vacuum tubes at a speed that is equal to planes but on land.

Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs said, “The UAE considers innovation as a top priority for all sectors including maritime. As a country with competitive capabilities and qualified competencies to keep pace with the technological developments in the sector and lead excellence, the UAE attaches special importance to innovation, while investing in the latest digital solutions and technologies. The forum on the future of autonomous shipping was particularly important as it provided a platform for industry stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in autonomous vessel technologies, their advantages and challenges. It also helped them build strategic partnerships with industry experts to make a significant shift in maritime operations and shipping the world over.”

Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said, “The maritime sector in the UAE is a unique example worldwide as it combines three integral aspects – it is a flag state, a port state and a coastal state. As such the country is recognised as one of the most influential countries in the maritime sector. Despite its diverse maritime facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, there is a constant need to develop newer ideas and find quality solutions to ensure that the country retains its position as a leading maritime hub. Through its membership in the IMO, it contributes to developing strategies, policies and standards to regulate the maritime sector globally. In cooperation with the IMO Member States, the UAE has participated in developing the best approach for regulatory scoping exercise on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) under the Maritime Safety and Legal Committee.”

In a recent development concerning autonomous tugs, Abu Dhabi Ports is collaborating with Robert Allan Ltd., to develop the world’s first fully unmanned autonomous commercial marine tugs. These vessels, which will have greater capabilities to operate in adverse weather conditions, will join SAFEEN, Abu Dhabi Ports’ maritime service arm. This will help increase efficiency and enhance operational safety.

Source: Emirates News Agency