What are they doing there?

A US Police delegation, headed by Major General Horace Frank, Deputy Commander of Special Operations and Anti-terrorism bureau at Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), arrived to Abu Dhabi International Airport on Friday evening. The delegation was greeted upon arrival by a number of officers from the Security Support Department at the Directorate General of Security Support Department at Abu Dhabi Police. The one-week official visit is part of the expertise exchange program with international police bodies. 

Colonel Khaled Saeed Al Shamesi, Head of Security Support Department, welcomed the visiting delegation, lauding the outstanding relations between both parties, and its importance in strengthening cooperation. "This visit aims to review the tasks and duties undertaken by the Security Support Department, as well as the advanced training programs being implemented. It also aims to exchange expertise in all aspects of field operations and patrols, and to get acquainted with the various police departments at the Ministry of Interior," said Colonel Al Shamesi. 

Colonel Al Shamesi stressed the keenness of international police bodies to avail of the Ministry of Interior's experiences. "The achievements and progress made by the Ministry of Interior is solid proof to the excellence attained on the international level in all areas of security and police work," he noted. Moreover, the Head of Security Support Department underlined the need to continue to avail of practical expertise with police counterparts around the world, which would enhance preparedness and speed of response in the fight against crime. 

Colonel Al Shamesi expressed his pride in the prominent and prestigious status attained by the UAE police, which make it the preferred destination for similar police bodies from around the world, wishing to avail of its expertise and experience. "This has been possible thanks to the support and continuous follow-up from the police leadership that provides various resources to ensure success, in addition to ongoing training, in accordance with the best international security systems," he added. 

For his part, Major General Horace Frank expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome. He said: "We are delighted to come on this visit, which will allow us to get acquainted with the prestigious achievements of the Police in the UAE, one of the world's most safe and secure countries, and globally renowned for its outstanding security and police efforts." 

He added: "We will closely look at the serious measures taken on the ground." 

Major General Horace Frank also pointed out to the increasingly distinguished role undertaken by the Security Support Department. Moreover, he emphasised the commitment of the LAPD's delegation to learn about the Department's staff members experience in combating crime and their skills in uncovering the mysteries associated with crimes in record time. "This visit will strengthen the exchange of field expertise, in a way that would benefit both sides," he concluded.

Can this nation rise from the ashes?

GENEVA --- The UAE has voiced its support for the recommendations of the United Nations Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia, Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga, to provide enough resources to ensure the success of the Somalia New Deal, an indispensable comprehensive vehicle adopted by the Somali government to carry out projects as part of an international technical assistance programme in the field of human rights.

The independent international expert prepared the report following two visits to the country in 2013 and 2014 based on UN Human Rights Council's Resolution 24/30 on "Assistance to Somalia in the Field of Human Rights."

Ambassador Obaid Salim Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, made the remarks as part of the country's statement at the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation in Somalia, held by the UN Human Rights Council.

He stressed that Somalia continues to experience exceptional security circumstances due to the escalating activity of armed rebels.

"This situation is having a negative impact on the Somali government's efforts to establish security and stability in the country in accordance with the Somalia New Deal, which is aimed, among other things, at improving human rights, establishing the rule of law and social justice.

The ambassador added, "The UAE, on the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, spared no effort to back humanitarian and development efforts in Somalia. As one of the most generous supporters of Somalia, the UAE provided US$50 million in the past few years, in addition to in-kind assistance from the country's charities, namely the Emirates Red Crescent and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, to build hospitals, healthcare centres and schools and provide drinkable water. The UAE also funds initiatives aimed at curbing the conflict in Somalia and contributing towards restoring government institutions to help restore peace and security to the country."

The UAE ambassador also called for intensified support and co-ordination with other donor nations to help Somalia overcome the current difficult circumstances, eradicate terrorist and extremist groups, survive the current crises and ultimately improve the situation.

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This country is hopping mad

MANAMA --- Bahrain has recalled its ambassador to Iran, Rashid Saad Al Dossari, state news agency BNA reported on Thursday, a day after it said security forces had discovered a large bomb-making factory and arrested a number of suspects linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement carried by BNA, has also declared the Iranian Acting Charge d'affaires in Bahrain, Mohammad Reza Babai, as a persona non grata and given him 72 hours to leave the country.

The statement said the action was taken in response to "continuing interference by Iran in the affairs of the kingdom" and an attempt by Tehran to foment "confessional sedition".

Iran supports acts of "sabotage and terrorism" in the country, the statement added, accusing Tehran of forming and arming "terrorist groups" and providing them with refuge.

The Ministry said the decision was made "in the light of the continued Iranian interference in the affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain without any legal deterrent or moral limits as well as its unlawful attempts and practices to create sectarian strife and impose its hegemony and control over the entire region."

It added that Iran is attempting to this through "reprehensible tools and means that are not limited to offending statements from senior officials, but also include supporting subversion, terrorism and incitement to violence through misleading media campaigns as well as assisting terrorist groups in the smuggling of weapons and explosives, and training their members, and harboring fugitives from justice."

Bahrain's diplomatic action, also came to face "Iran's repeated and blatant violation of all norms, laws and international conventions and principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect and unacceptable infringement on the independence and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain," the Ministry's statement added.

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Yes, children can study even amid conflict

BRUSSLS ---- More than two million children whose lives have been torn apart by the conflict in Syria will have better access to education in safe environments through an agreement signed Thursday by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

The grants worth 62 million Euros (US$69 million) will scale up Unicef and the EU’s joint response in providing boys and girls with access to education in protective and empowering environments in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.

The scale of the education crisis is staggering. Inside and outside Syria, there are 2.7 million children out of school; one in four schools in Syria cannot be used; 52,500 teachers have left their posts; and the loss of school infrastructure is estimated to be worth nearly US$700 million. In neighboring countries, half of school aged children are out of school especially in Turkey and Lebanon, and schools are over-crowded and under-resourced.

"The needs are enormous. The EU has been at the forefront of the international response to the Syrian crisis, specifically in the education sector in partnership with Unicef and host governments in the region," said Johannes Hahn, European Union Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, in a statement.

Unicef and the EU warned that with 7.6 million Syrian children in need of humanitarian assistance, the country risks losing an entire generation of children. The commitment to investing in education will help lift children out of despair and vulnerability to exploitation. Initiatives like "No Lost Generation" (to which the EU has been one of the major partners), boost learning opportunities – including virtual and self-learning – for millions of extremely vulnerable children.

"This funding will help Syrian children live a more normal life and give them prospects for a better future. However, despite these efforts, far too many children remain out of school in the region. All partners have to join forces to alleviate the obstacles that deprive these pupils to their right to education. The EU remains fully committed to contribute to this effort, notably through its strong partnership with UNICEF," Hahn said.

Part of this support will be provided from the EU’s newly created Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis which is the EU’s first funding instrument with a regional scope.

"Our partnership with the European Union will enable large scale support for the children of Syria. It is absolutely critical that these children are able to continue their education. It is not just their lives that are at stake, but the future of their country and region," said Geeta Rao Gupta, Unicef Deputy Executive Director.

Inside Syria, the second phase of "Creating a path to Early Recovery for Education in Syria'' (12 million euro/ US$13.9 million) has been launched to improve access to pre-school, primary and alternative education for most affected children and adolescents. An additional 8 million-euro contribution to the same programme has just been decided to expand the coverage of the programme and respond to an urgent Unicef request for school year 2015-2016. This will bring the overall EU contribution to this programme to more than 35 million euro.

In Lebanon, 37.9 million euro (US$42.4 million) will provide children and adolescents with access to learning opportunities, health care and child protection, helping 460 000 children, women and caregivers.

In Turkey, 12.5 million euro (US$13.9 million) from the EU Regional Trust Fund will contribute towards increased access to inclusive, quality education, a protective environment and positive youth engagement opportunities for 200,000 Syrian and Turkish children and youth.

Want to see all kinds of robots?

DUBAI -- The RTEX ‘Robot Technology Exhibition’ was opened today at The Meydan Hotel, Dubai, by Essa Al Maidoor, Deputy Director-General of Dubai Municipality and President of the Society of Engineers - UAE.

The RTEX Exhibition is the first event in the Middle East and North Africa exhibiting the latest innovations in Robotics and Automation. With over 30 exhibitors including Dubai Customs, Lockheed Martin, Electrolux, Society of Engineers - UAE and many more, RTEX is designed to provide a platform for companies to exhibit their products and present the latest RT advancements.

Alongside the RTEX Exhibition, the Managing Smart Cities 2015 - Robotic Technology and ICT Conference organized by the Society of Engineers - UAE also opened at the event with over 200 delegates from various sectors including governments, ministries, engineering and architectural offices, consultants, contractors, universities, and other individuals who want to learn more about the importance of project management in Smart and Sustainable Cities, innovative robot services and the role of robotics in sustainable development.

Several global leaders spoke at the conference, including Mohammed Hassan Taha, Senior Architect Engineer and Master's Degree holder in Sustainable Urban Planning, Dr. Abdulla Ismail, Professor of Electrical Engineering in RIT Dubai, Dr. Se-Kyong Song, CEO and Founder of Future Robot Co. Ltd., Alan Millin, Chartered Engineer, LEED AP, Certified Member of the British Institute of Facilities Management, and Maged Farouck Hanna, General Manager of the Society of Engineers - UAE.

Stressing the importance of smart cities, robotics, automation and innovation, Al Maidoor said, "This event shows the vital role of engineering in the robotics and automation industry. Robotics is the branch of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronic engineering and computer science that deals with the design, construction, operation, and application of robots, as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and/or cognition."

"Many of today's robots are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics. Today, robotics is a rapidly growing field, as technological advances continue, researching, designing, and building new robots serve various practical purposes, whether domestically, commercially, or militarily. Many robots do jobs that are hazardous for people such as defusing bombs, mines and exploring shipwrecks. The next generation of robots that will approach human intelligence in their capabilities will rely on ultrafast image processing developed by engineers."

"The RTEX Exhibition and the Managing Smart Cities Conference are important tools to provide education and awareness about the significance of robotics and automation in the UAE, especially since Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched a strategy to transform Dubai into a ‘Smart City’ in March last year."

"The Smart City strategic plan is based on the ideas of Communication, Integration and Cooperation. Smart City investment strategies are integral to the growth of engineering, telecommunication, media and technology companies and living standards for citizens across MENA. This year, Dubai was crowned the MENA Smart City of the Year. It is an indication that UAE is one of the pioneers of advanced, cutting-edge technologies in the MENA Region and Dubai government’s latest initiatives will make its Smart City project one of the best in the world," Al Maidoor added.

Maged Farouck Hanna said, "Our country is today ushering in a new era for the improvement and development of quality of life through robotics and automation. Robotics is engineered to help our society accomplish their most difficult challenges today and in the future. This year’s event focuses on increasing awareness within the public and private sector on the vital role of robotics and automation in developing mechanisms that will enable and encourage greater participation on its next edition."

"The Society of Engineers - UAE is supporting various initiatives in smart, robotics and automation. This year, SOE will launch its Smart Services where membership and its various activities will be available online. This development will reflect a huge benefit for our members and the booming business environment where we have seen significant growth in the number of emerging technology companies and application developers in Dubai and MENA Region. Regional cooperation and partnerships between governments, private sectors and civil society will be highlighted at this milestone event," he concluded.

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Will they find Martians?

ABU DHABI -- The UAE Space Agency has carried out an official visit to the Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, to discuss opportunities of cooperation between the two organizations within the space sector. This falls in line with the agency's efforts to build strategic partnerships and achieve goals of regional and international cooperation within the industry.

The delegation was led by Dr. Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director-General, along with a number of senior officials from the agency. They met with a number of engineers and officials from ISRO.

The UAE delegation learnt about the Indian space sector and the different programmes that ISRO has led within space exploration. They also looked at satellite launching capabilities which have positioned India as a leading nation within the industry, as it provides a number of services across the space sector.

The visit also involved a tour of the Satellite Assembly and Testing Center for ISRO, where the final tests are made on satellites before they are launched. This was followed by a visit to the Control And Information Center for the Indian Mars probe project which was launched in 2013 and began to orbit Mars last year. The delegation was briefed on the quality and type of information received at the centres and the methods of collecting and distributing this information to other science and research bodies. It is worth noting that India is one of the seven countries that have operational programs to explore the red planet.

Al Rumaithi said, "The UAE and India have deep bonds and connections that span across political, economic, commercial and cultural historic roots. Working together within the space sector will only strengthen these connections and bring benefits to the UAE that include knowledge transfer and human capital development."

Dr. Al Ahbabi commented, "India is one of the most advanced nations within the space sector and has a strong foundation and fascinating programmes. We therefore look at ways of working together to build partnership and transfer knowledge within this exciting industry."

The UAE Space Agency provided a detailed presentation on the space sector strategy in the UAE, focusing on its objectives, initiatives and programmes. The agency also outlined its strategic priorities that determine the features of the next phase of development, as well as its plans for educational programmes, which will be launched in cooperation with a number of universities and specialized institutions. The agency also provided information on the Mars Probe mission that will be launched by the UAE in time for 2021.

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Shop til you drop Mecca

Dubai -- Dubai has been ranked the number one destination in the world for Muslims to travel to for shopping purposes, according to a new report released by MasterCard and CrescentRating ahead of the upcoming Global Islamic Summit to be held in Dubai.

The Muslim Travel Shopping Index 2015 (MTSI 2015) was released during MasterCard’s Innovation Forum in Kuala Lumpur. It analyses the trends and preferences of the Muslim traveler shopping market based on the performance of 40 main international shopping destinations against a number of set criteria. Compiled by MasterCard and CrescentRating, the publication of the inaugural MTSI2015 Index ranked Dubai the leading destination with a weighted score of 79.5 out of 100.

Dubai tops the list of shopping destinations for Muslims outright, being recognized as the first-placed Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) MTSI 2015 destination as well as heading the list of non-OIC destinations. The city’s next closest competitor is Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, with a score of 73.3, emphasizing just how successfully Dubai has been able to market itself as a leading shopping destination. Sharjah ranked fifth highest MTSI destination in the Arab World, coming in 12th overall with a competitive score of 55.3.

Other cities from within the Arab World performed strongly on the MTSI 2015. Manama in Bahrain was the second highest ranked destination in the Arab World according MTSI Index for destinations within the OIC, coming in at seventh overall with a score of 59.6. Doha in Qatar was close behind with an overall ranking of eighth, and a score of 59.5. Riyadh in Saudi Arabia was the fourth highest ranked destination in the MTSI 2015 OIC list for the region, with an overall ranking of ninth and a weighted score of 59.3.

Raghu Malhotra, Division President, Middle East and North Africa, MasterCard said, "With 108 million Muslim travelers representing 10 per cent of the entire travel economy in 2014, and forecasted to grow even further to 150 million visitors by 2020, it is evident this segment of the travel market represents a huge opportunity for both public and private sector organizations. We are very pleased to publish this Index on the travel and shopping patterns of Muslim communities in order for organizations around the world to more effectively target and capture share of this lucrative travel sector.

Earlier this year, Dubai was ranked amongst the top five most popular destination cities in the world in MasterCard’s 2015 Global Destination Cities Index and has consistently advanced its position since the annual index first launched in 2012. This further underlines the city’s dynamism and enduring positive reputation amongst international travelers."

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating & HalalTrip said, "The MTSI is a fascinating insight into the shopping habits of Muslim consumers and will prove to be an invaluable tool to the entire sector. The research looks at two of the most important expenditure components of Muslim travelers which is shopping and dining. It is a perfect complement to the GMTI2015 which we launched earlier this year and allows us to provide a complete picture of how Muslims spend their money when travelling."

MTSI uses a comprehensive set of metrics to rank destinations including a city’s suitability as a shopping destination, its Muslim-friendly services and facilities, and its ease of travel and family friendliness. Collectively, these factors contribute to the overall score and ranking of each destination.

Key findings of the MTSI 2015 report include: Total expenditure of Muslim travelers visiting the 40 cities included in the report amounted to $36 billion in 2014. Of this total expenditure, $9.3 billion (26 per cent) was spent on shopping.

56 per cent of respondents shop for souvenirs as typical purchases, while 45 per cent shop for local clothing brands. 40 per cent of respondents also purchase Islamic clothing and accessories, while 38 per cent chose traditional handicrafts to buy.

Results of the study highlight that 27 per cent of respondents spend between $250 – 500 on shopping whilst travelling, while 24 per cent spend between $500 – 1,000, and 20 per cent spend over $1,000.

When travelling, 55 per cent of the survey pool still prefers to use cash for purchases. 35 per cent on the other hand, prefer using credit cards for their purchases, while 6 per cent utilize debit cards.

Singapore and London ranked among the top five destinations for Muslim shopping travelers, revealing that Muslims are becoming more adventurous and welcoming of new shopping and dining experiences.

Although OIC destinations have an advantage due to possessing Muslim-friendly environments as a default, non-OIC destinations can successfully compete for Muslim travelers by proactively catering to this segment.

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