Day: July 3, 2022

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ADJD hosts webinar on anti-money laundering mechanisms

ABU DHABI, The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) organised a webinar on the “Mechanisms to combat money laundering and terrorism financing and the Obligations of Legal Professionals, Officers of the Court and Others Towards these Crimes in the Light of UAE Legislation and Judiciary, and International Experiences”, as part of the efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering endeavours in line with the UAE’s drive to reduce financial crimes.

The webinar aims to support the fight against money laundering crimes so as to maintain the UAE’s positive and prestigious reputation worldwide, to consolidate its leading position in the field of financial and commercial control and to reduce abusive or suspicious practices in various business activities.

In his opening address to the forum, Counsellor Mansour Al Marzouqi, Chief Justice of the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court, highlighted the importance of reinforcing the anti-money laundering mechanisms to support the fight made in this regard, in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Chairman of the Judicial Department of Abu Dhabi, to establish a judicial system that enhances the protection of both society and the economy against the effects of crime.

For his part, Mohammad Alhassani, Chief Prosecutor at the Major Financial Matters Prosecution, and Head of the International Cooperation Section at the Technical Office of the Attorney General of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, discussed the challenges and solutions in the fight against money laundering and the local and global obligations, addressing the nature of money laundering crimes, their elements and historical roots, underscoring the competencies of the Abu Dhabi Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Crimes Court, the process behind the implementation of international judicial cooperation requests in criminal cases and the challenges encountered in this context, the mutual evaluation of the crimes of money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and the role of the business sector in addressing them.

Alhassani further stressed the importance of international cooperation in risk identification, policy development and coordination, the prosecution of money laundering, terrorist financing and arms proliferation crimes, the application of preventive measures in the financial sector and other specified sectors, granting the necessary powers and responsibilities to the competent authorities in terms of investigation, law enforcement and control, improving transparency, availability of information on beneficial ownership among legal persons (companies), legal arrangements, and facilitating international cooperation.

For his part, Dr. Ridha Khemakhem, Judge at the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal, reviewed the UAE’s efforts in combating money laundering and the legislative and institutional mechanisms the country has adopted in this regard, as well as the most important international agreements and treaties signed by the UAE. He also pointed to the sustained efforts to develop the judicial system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to deal with these crimes and to prosecute the perpetrators and bring them to justice by taking several measures in cooperation with the relevant authorities through a developed legislative and judicial system.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE expresses condolences and solidarity to Iran over earthquake victims

ABU DHABI, The UAE has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the earthquake that struck the south of the country, and caused dozens of casualties.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) expressed its sincere condolences to the government of Iran and its people, and to the families of the victims of this painful tragedy, and its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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‘TEDxRabdanAcademy’ takes place under theme of ‘Ideas Worth Sharing in Policing and Security’

ABU DHABI, Rabdan Academy hosted the first TEDx Talks ‘TEDxRabdanAcademy’, themed ‘Ideas Worth Sharing in Policing and Security’, at the Academy’s auditorium in the presence of James Morse, President of Rabdan Academy, and the Academy’s Senior Management Members.

Six experts from various backgrounds spoke at the event, which was attended by the faculty, administrative staff, students and key stakeholders of Rabdan Academy.

The TEDx Talks included two consecutive sessions, where the first session focused on the ‘Technology, Smart Cities and Cyber Security in Future Cities’, while the second session dealt with ‘Strengthening Capabilities and the Work Environment in the Fields of Safety, Security, Defence, Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management’.

James Morse, President of Rabdan Academy, said that “This conference stems from the keenness of Rabdan Academy to employ local and international platforms, which place an explicit value in promoting the principles of knowledge and education through consolidating collective thinking, encouraging innovation, exchanging knowledge and formulating new insights and ideas in line with the UAE’s directions and vision”.

He also added that the event embodies a knowledge platform consistent with Rabdan Academy’s insights to recruit and enhance talent and available resources, consolidate exchanging ideas, support education programmes, events and purposeful academic meetings, which contribute to achieving the greatest benefit for the participants.

Speaking in the first session of the conference were Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity in the government of UAE, Dr. Julian Laufs, Director of Relations and Innovation at the National Cyber Defence Centre, and Prof. Spyridon Litsas, Professor of Homeland Security at Rabdan Academy.

The speakers in the second session of the conference were Dr. Anna Dolidze, Associate Professor at Rabdan Academy, Dr. Asma Al-Nuaimi, Assistant Professor at Rabdan Academy, Dr. Deena Al Sori, Academic Adviser at Rabdan Academy.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE field hospital begins operating to help earthquake victims in Afghanistan

ABU DHABI, The field hospital established by the UAE in areas affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan began operating after being equipped with specialised medical staff, equipment, and supplies.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued directives to provide urgent aid for those affected by the earthquake.

The hospital includes 75 beds, 20 oxygen cylinders, and two operating rooms on an area of 1,000 square metres and will contribute to a rapid medical response for those injured who require urgent medical assistance.

Eisa Salem Aldhaheri, UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said: “Establishing the field hospital comes as part of the UAE’s efforts to respond to challenges and provide rapid medical intervention and life-saving treatment to those in difficult-to-reach areas most affected by the earthquake.”

The UAE has diversified its urgent relief assistance to earthquake victims, including various food and medical aid, extending from its commitment to participating in international efforts to address the impact of the earthquake that hit various areas in Afghanistan.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE Circular Economy Council approves 22 policies to expedite progress of circular economy transition

DUBAI, The UAE Circular Economy Council convened its second meeting of 2022, presided over by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment.

The meeting drew the participation of high-level representatives of various government and private sector entities from across the UAE. These included Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications; Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, CEO of Alliances for Global Sustainability; Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

The participants also included Dawood Al Hajri, Director-General of Dubai Municipality; Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Municipality and Planning Department in Ajman; Essa Al Hashmi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; Yousif Al Ali, Assistant Under-Secretary for Electricity, Water and Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO of Bee’ah; Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director-General of Emirates Nature-WWF; and Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

The Council approved 22 policies proposed by its subsidiary, the Circular Economy Policies Committee, that focus on accelerating the implementation of the circular economy model in the UAE in four main sectors – manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transport.

The Council also identified at least 16 circular economy activities that open a wealth of opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products, developing automated AI-enabled waste management solutions, and remanufacturing electronic waste.

“With the cabinet’s approval of the UAE Circular Economy Policy in January 2021, we have embarked on an ambitious and important mission to transition from a linear model to a circular economy approach. Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability. Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country,” Almheiri said.

“Many key stakeholders in the UAE have already started to embrace circular economy principles. We at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and at the Ministry of Economy have been engaging with them and others to gain valuable information and insights about ways of facilitating the transition to a circular economy,” she added.

The Minister noted that 45 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions result from producing cars, clothes, food, and other products used every day. This demonstrates the great potential that lays in circular economy, which can complement the emission reduction and mitigate the current climate crisis.

For his part, Minister Abdullah Al Marri, who also heads the Council’s Circular Economy Policies Committee, noted that the Committee recently held intensive workshops and meetings with the government and private sectors as well as international partners. The workshops were designed to support the implementation of the UAE Circular Economy Policy in four key sectors – manufacturing, green infrastructure, transportation, and food production and consumption – as well as the 22 new policies issued to drive the UAE’s overall transition to a circular economy.

“These policies will contribute to addressing all challenges the private sector is facing in its shift to a circular economy and support the country’s green development drive. The initiatives align with the directives of our wise leadership to fast-track the country’s transition to a circular economy as one of the sustainability, flexibility, and growth drivers of the new economic model as per the Principles of the 50.

“The Committee continues its efforts to implement the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021-2031 through programmes and projects that are set to attract investments to this field and expand its infrastructure. Efforts are also being exerted to establish a circular economy database, in addition to offering incentives to encourage the private sector to shift towards clean production methods, thereby enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness as one of the leading circular economies regionally and globally,” he stated.

After a brief on the progress of current circular economy projects in the UAE and startups’ insights, Anis Nassar from the World Economic Forum (WEF) updated Council members on the Scale360 initiative. The initiative brings together global partners to scale up the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies with the aim of fast-tracking the adoption of the circular economy principles.

The meeting agenda also featured an overview of Bee’ah’s efforts to implement a circular economy model in its operations as well as a presentation on the Abu Dhabi Emirate Single Use Plastic Policy that came into force on 1st June, 2022.

Approved in January 2021, the UAE Circular Economy Policy identifies the optimal approach to the country’s transition to a circular economy. Its objectives include building a sustainable economy, promoting efficient use of natural resources, encouraging the private sector to shift to cleaner industrial production methods that involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other 4IR technologies, and adopting sustainable consumption and production patterns that reduce environmental stress while meeting the basic needs of the population.

The UAE Circular Economy Council comprises 17 representatives of relevant federal and local government entities, private sector businesses, and international organisations.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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