Emirates

Founding Fathers’ determination guides the country to become one of fastest growing in world: UAQ Ruler

UMM AL QAIWAIN, 1st December, 2021 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, has highlighted the will and determination of the Founding Fathers, which led the country to become one of the fastest-growing nations in the world.

"On 2nd December every year, we recall the day when the national will was united and resulted in the establishment of the Union, which was announced by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Founding Fathers on 2nd December, 1971," he said in a statement to the 'Nation Shield', the UAE Armed Forces magazine, on the occasion of the UAE's 50th National Day.

Following is the full text of his statement on the occasion: "On this day, we proudly celebrate the Union and the Golden Jubilee of national unity, and we are shaping a new era for the next 50 years under the framework of a new national strategy to implement long-term development plans, as well as the modernisation of government work to keep pace with future developments. We are also setting plans that will support the country’s roadmap for economic action, and drafting laws and policies that will achieve integration across all sectors, in addition to advancing our health, economic and social systems, achieving food security, and developing the social and educational sectors.

Our celebration today of the country’s Golden Jubilee, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlights the will and determination of the Founding Fathers when they established a strong country, which has become one of the fastest-growing in the world. In the coming period, the country will witness many initiatives that will support the nation’s youth, encourage innovation across all areas, and create distinguished policies and initiatives.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, launched the UAE Vision 2021, which will include interactive initiatives between government authorities, the private sector and members of the community, which will cooperate in sharing ideas, initiatives and shaping the future of all sectors. The project to design the next 50 years will include launching a digital platform for outlining the future of the UAE, with the participation of UAE citizens and residents.

It will also involve holding discussion sessions between the government and private sector to produce the main elements of the future plans across all sectors.

Under the framework of preparing for the next 50 years and celebrating the country’s Golden Jubilee, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced the launch of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at enhancing the country’s global stature.

On this glorious national occasion, I extend my congratulations and best wishes to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, and the Emirati people."

Emirates

Over 300,000 houses will be built within a year, says Turkish President

ANKARA, 1st April, 2023 (WAM) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday pledged to rebuild the country's southern region that was struck by powerful earthquakes on 6th February, claiming the lives of more than 50,000 people.

"Our aim is to restore our cities in the earthquake zone by handing over 319,000 residences and village houses to owners within a year," Erdogan said at a ground-breaking ceremony in quake-hit Elazig province.

According to state-run Anadolu Agency, Erdogan said Türkiye will erase the traces of the destruction caused by the disaster, and prepare "more strongly" for possible disasters in the future.

Magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes struck 11 Turkish provinces. More than 13.5 million people in Türkiye have been affected by the quakes, as well as many others in northern Syria.

Emirates

Umm AL Qaiwain Ruler receives Ramadan well-wishers

UMM AL QAIWAIN, 1st April, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, Saturday received Ramadan well-wishers at his palace in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, on the tenth day of the holy month.

Sheikh Saud received Ramadan greetings from Sheikhs, Chairmen and Heads of government departments in the country; dignitaries; and businesspersons, who congratulated him on the occasion of the Holy Month and wished him good health and further progress for the UAE and other Muslim and Arab nations.

A number of sheikhs, heads of departments and top officials attended the reception.

Emirates

Canadian Ambassador to UAE welcomes launch of Canada-UAE Sovereign Wealth Fund Council

ABU DHABI, 1st April, 2023 (WAM) — Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, Kris Panday, has welcomed the launch of the Canada-UAE Sovereign Wealth Fund Council (SWFC).

“The mission of the SWFC is to harness the synergies between Canada and the UAE’s preeminent institutional investors to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns in support of common interests”, said the Ambassador.

The SWFC will help identify opportunities for strategic capital collaboration and thought leadership between Canadian public Pension Funds (PPFs) and UAE Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in global markets, he noted.

It is designed to offer an investment collaboration framework that has a more dynamic and flexible structure benefitting Canada and the UAE as two key investment partners, Panday said.

Panday will serve as Chief Co-Patron of the SWFC along with Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, the UAE Ambassador to Canada.

Shezad Rokerya has been appointed as Senior Advisor to Ambassador Panday and will serve as Chairman of the SWFC.

Ambassador Al Raqbani said, “Through the Canada-UAE SWFC we have the capacity to capitalise on the individual strengths of both countries, bringing together innovative ideas, expert knowledge, and resources to power sustainable economic development and investment possibilities.”

He added, “This partnership paves the way for further cooperation that will impact the global financial outlook in the future. It is not only a strategic opportunity but also a shared responsibility in constructing a more sustainable and equitable future for all.”

Rokerya, SWFC Chairman, said, “The top six Canadian PPFs and UAE SWFs cumulatively manage over US$3 trillion in assets. The SWFC will enable these stakeholders to jointly develop investment strategies and deploy capital globally in a transformative and impactful manner to achieve significant value creation.”

This initiative will serve as a catalyst for empowering multiple constituents from both Canada and the UAE to strategically develop and collaborate in investments globally. The SWFC stakeholders will be able to leverage each other’s respective strengths, challenges, experience and thought leadership in each asset class, sector, and geographic influence to develop areas of collaboration. The SWFC will lead discussions with senior leadership from Canadian PPFs and UAE SWFs to develop a governance framework and outline shared alignment and overarching criteria for the development of potential co-investment strategies.