Emirates Official News
ABU DHABI, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to King Philippe of Belgium on the occasion of his country’s National Day, which is observed on 21st July.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, also sent similar messages to King of Belgium and to the country’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has successfully completed the Hot Functional Testing (HFT) on Unit 4, the last of its four units of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.
This significant pre-operational test represents an important step forward in the testing phase of Unit 4 of the Plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi Emirate, with all the lessons learned from the testing of the other units successfully incorporated.
During the HFT, components were checked for thermal expansion and vibration. The results demonstrate that all systems perform in accordance with the highest quality and safety standards under normal operating conditions. Most notably, the pressuriser safety valve test, pre-core reactor coolant system flow measurement test and main turbine system test were performed, proving that major components and systems work as designed and meet all requirements for normal operation.
HFT takes place over a series of weeks and consists of almost 200 individual and integrated tests performed on major systems to check their performance under normal operational conditions, without the presence of nuclear fuel in the reactor.
Prior to undertaking the HFT tests, ENEC completed the Structural Integrity Test (SIT) and Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) at Unit 4. The completion of the tests demonstrated the integrity and robustness of the building structure in terms of force, and the structure’s ability to perform safely under normal and extraordinary circumstances.
“The successful completion of these tests on Unit 4 of the Barakah Plant showcases our continued progress in accordance with all national regulatory requirements and the highest international standards,” said Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC.
“We have incorporated the lessons learned during the development of each unit, increasing delivery efficiency while maintaining world-class levels of quality and safety. These tests are key steps towards demonstrating Unit 4’s readiness to operate and bring us closer to having four units online to provide abundant, clean and reliable electricity, advancing the UAE’s clean energy transition and boosting energy security for the next 60 years. As a result, the Barakah Plant is playing a pivotal role in supporting the UAE’s effort to achieve Net Zero by 2050,” Al Hammadi added.
Construction of Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant began in September 2015, three years after Unit 1, and has progressed safely and steadily ever since. ENEC continues to demonstrate the benefits of building four identical reactors simultaneously with the cumulative knowledge and expertise developed by the team used to complete construction on the later units with greater efficiency.
The Barakah Plant is a powerhouse for the sustainable development of the UAE. Once fully operational, all four Units of the Plant will produce up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs and will prevent 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions every year. This is equivalent to 4.8 million passenger cars driven for one year, highlighting the leading role nuclear energy plays in accelerating the decarbonisation of the UAE’s power sector in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050.
Major progress has been made at the Barakah Plant, which is now generating clean electricity and rapidly decarbonising the Nation’s power sector with two units commercially operating and the third unit due to come online in the coming months, following the recent completion of fuel load.
The Barakah Plant is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 units. By 2025, the Barakah Plant is forecast to be the largest contributor to cutting Abu Dhabi Emirate’s power and water sector carbon emissions by 50 percent and generating over 85% of Abu Dhabi’s clean electricity, demonstrating the significant abilities of nuclear energy in producing abundant baseload clean electricity.
Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi today announced that it will launch two new routes from Abu Dhabi to the Maldives, and the airline’s fifth key destination in the Gulf, Kuwait.
From October, Wizz Air will offer flights four times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Abu Dhabi to Male, the main international airport in the Maldives.
Flights to Kuwait, located in the North-Western corner of the Persian Gulf, will operate daily from Abu Dhabi.
The new routes will see Wizz Air Abu Dhabi fly to a total of 34 destinations within a five-hour flight time radius of Abu Dhabi, since the airline launched in January 2021.
The arrival of a fifth aircraft later this year means flights to Kuwait and the Maldives will be operated on a brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft, which offers the lowest environmental footprint. Today’s expansion reaffirms Wizz Air’s long-term commitment to offering ultra-low fares to various destinations from Abu Dhabi, whilst stimulating the local economy and job market.
Owain Jones, Development Officer at Wizz Air, said, “We are excited to announce two new Wizz Air Abu Dhabi routes, which reaffirm our commitment to supporting the UAE’s travel and tourism industry by connecting its capital with many popular holiday destinations regionally and globally.
“With the arrival of our fifth Airbus aircraft in October, we are delighted to enhance connectivity with our neighbour countries across the GCC with flights to Kuwait, as well as providing our customers with affordable flights to Maldives. We are particularly excited about launching flights to the Maldives, a tropical paradise destination high up on travellers’ bucket list. The Wizz team looks forward to welcoming customers onboard our young and green aircraft very soon.”
Source: Emirates News Agency
ABU DHABI, The Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) has partnered with Hocoma, a global market leader for the development, manufacturing, and marketing of robotic and sensor-based devices for functional movement therapy, to launch an international initiative enabling People of Determination to walk cross-country distances.
The initiative titled “Small steps to a great journey”, reinforces the ZHO’s commitment to the world-class treatment and rehabilitation of People of Determination in helping to overcome challenges within society.
“Small steps to a great journey” will begin in Abu Dhabi with People of Determination using Hocoma’s Lokomat to learn how to walk or improve walking capabilities, before continuing to Istanbul, Turkey (in partnership with Memorial Sisli Hospital), Zagreb, Croatia (in partnership with GLAVIC Clinic), and concluding in Zurich, Switzerland, where groups of rehab patients will carry on the challenge in each city.
During the walk, steps and distance will be monitored throughout as the participants will be encouraged to walk the distance of travel between each city and complete a virtual journey.
Concluding at the end of the year, “Small steps to a great journey” will inspire rehab patients in their daily efforts towards improvement as they undergo gait physical therapy using Lokomat.
Abdullah Al Humaidan, ZHO’s Secretary General, said, “At the ZHO, we are committed to supporting People of Determination on their journeys to better health. The ‘Small steps to a great journey’ initiative will see People of Determination across markets, stand up and walk, some for the very first time which is hugely inspiring. By partnering with Hocoma, we have access to state-of-the-art robot-assisted technology and therapists that will support participants as they walk vast distances and push boundaries. We expect this initiative to empower participants, and we walk alongside each person involved in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Zagreb, and Zurich on a memorable journey, while extending our gratitude to our partners Memorial Hospital and Glavic Clinic for joining us on this endeavour.”
Mitja Hribar, Director – International Sales, Hocoma, said, “Over the past 20 years, we have proudly partnered with the most prominent institutions in the field of rehabilitation, bringing advanced solutions to those that need them most. “Small steps to a great journey” encourages all Lokomat users to join the initiative launched by the Zayed Higher Organisation, Memorial Sisli Hospital, and GLAVIC Clinic, to promote the importance of perseverance and teamwork. By bringing together patients from all over the globe, we are not only counting steps towards the final destination, but creating a stimulative environment to encourage, support, and as a team, overcome the obstacles along the way.”
Prof. Dr. Engin Çakar, Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Robotic Rehabilitation Centre, Memorial Sisli Hospital, said, “This project will touch the lives of rehabilitation survivors and create awareness among the public. Understanding and explaining the “Small steps to a great journey” concept is important. With the robotic rehabilitation devices developed by Hocoma, we can safely offer the most effective treatments to our patients for years.”
Prim. Dr. Josip Glavic, Founder and Owner of Glavic Clinic, said, “Our mission is to inspire hope and lead forward robotic neurorehabilitation of patients in the world combining the best of human and technology capabilities interaction. Each additional step for our patients is a giant leap of rewards for our team.”
Glavic Clinic is a robotic neurorehabilitation centre where neurorehabilitation is carried out following the unique GLARTH concept. By applying advanced technology in treatments for People of Determination, the ZHO launched the region’s first integrated robotic therapy laboratory – Smart Rehabilitation Laboratory.
Source: Emirates News Agency
DUBAI, The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has announced the launch of this year’s “Shark Week” in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), and Atlantis, The Palm.
Set to run from 24th to 31st July, the Week’s activities aim to educate the public about the key role sharks play in keeping marine ecosystems in balance and the importance of conserving marine biodiversity.
Dr. Nasir Sultan, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for the Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MoCCAE, said, “Our biodiversity is subject to increasing pressures and is declining rapidly. We address this critical issue through an integrated legislative framework, coupled with community-oriented initiatives and programmes. Acknowledging the need to protect sharks, particularly endangered species, the Ministry developed the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks that presents concrete steps to enhance shark sustainability in the UAE. We have also issued resolutions that regulate their fishing and trade.”
“Shark Week 2022 perfectly aligns with our goals. We invite all citizens, residents, and visitors to participate in its fun-filled and informative activities that will teach them about the magnificent predators of the ocean and how they can help protect them,” he added.
Ahmed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at EAD, commented, “We are very pleased to be aligned with MoCCAE and our partners on Shark Week, as the conservation and protection of biodiversity is one of the main strategic priorities of EAD. Sharks are a very important species to us, and we would like the general public to be more informed about them. As part of the activities of Shark Week, we will be sharing our precious and vital scientific information, positioning EAD as a leader in research that helps us develop relevant policies regarding biodiversity so that it may thrive and exist in abundance in Abu Dhabi waters.”
“Additionally, EAD, in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), published a report on the status and level of threats to shark species in the Arabian Sea and its surrounding areas. On this occasion, we would like to thank the community and fishermen for their cooperation and support for the conservation efforts of shark species and for adhering to the relevant legislation,” he continued.
For his part, Elsayed Mohamed, Middle East and North Africa Regional Director at IFAW, noted, “IFAW is cognisant of the UAE’s efforts concerning the protection of biodiversity and applauds the legislative framework set concerning sharks. Shark Week is a wonderful opportunity to ingrain the love for conservation in the citizens of the world, especially youth, to urge them to join this crucial urgent mission to save wildlife and their natural habitats.”
Shark Week will kick off with two virtual workshops under the theme “Sharks in the UAE”, targeting fishermen as well as the general public, on 24th and 25th July. The agenda will feature separate sessions in English and Arabic, presented by biodiversity and fisheries experts from MOCCAE, IFAW, Atlantis, The Palm, and EAD.
The first workshop will focus on interesting facts about sharks and global trends in shark fin trade, while the second workshop will explore topics such as international conventions and UAE legislation protecting sharks, identification of protected shark species that are permanently banned from fishing, and safe handling and release of shark and ray bycatch.
On 28th June, the Atlantis Conference Centre will host a free-to-attend public awareness session entitled “Sharks of the Arabian Gulf”.
From 23rd July throughout the week, the shark theme will dominate at the Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm, offering a wide range of edutainment activities for all ages, including informative talks and the Shark Quest trivia quiz, and distribute fun giveaways to raise awareness about the importance of shark conservation and address common misconceptions about sharks. To mark the occasion, the aquarium will also launch two new shark-focused offerings – the Shark Specialist educational programme for ages 8-14 and the Shark Snorkel experience for ages over six.
Source: Emirates News Agency