Emirates

UAE demonstrates its maritime contributions and competencies at IMO

DUBAI, 7th December, 2021 (WAM) — Presenting its profile for category B candidacy in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council at the organisation’s focus group in London, the UAE’s delegation has displayed very powerful contributions made to the sector over the years, that have influenced the industry globally.

Boasting a rich maritime history, and a coastline of 1,650 kilometres, the UAE’s strategic location at the crossroads of global shipping routes has enabled it to become a central maritime hub in the world. Besides its natural endowments, the country has strived to achieve continuous development in the maritime industry, which is a key pillar of its national economy, contributing more than AED 90 billion to its GDP.

Hassan Mohamed Juma Al Mansoori, Under-Secretary of the Infrastructure and Transport Sector at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, "We are proud of our achievements made over the years. The UAE’s practices, decisions and legislations have helped develop the maritime sector, enhanced its safety standards, and contributed to protecting the marine environment globally. The UAE was ranked 3rd globally in transport services trade and in Bunker Supply Index. It ranked fifth globally as a key competitive maritime hub. The UAE’s ports rank among the top 10 internationally in the volume of container handling."

He added, "With the announcement of the Projects of the 50, we are setting our targets even higher. Through our re-election to the IMO council, we aim to work with member states to advance the global maritime sector and the shipping industry through a collective contribution to the IMO’s mission of achieving the safety, security and efficiency of maritime transport in clean oceans."

As a centre for maritime excellence, the UAE has always capitalised on the sector’s success to empower economic prosperity. With its impeccable and well-balanced approach in dealing with maritime issues as a flag, port and coastal state, the UAE has become one of the most prominent countries supporting the IMO. It was first elected as a permanent member of the council under category B in 2017 and has maintained this status since.

The UAE’s seaborne trade and transshipment efforts cater to about two billion people from China, India, and the Gulf States to Eurasia and all the way to Eastern Europe. The UAE is committed to upholding its responsibility in establishing a sustainable platform for sharing knowledge and expertise among maritime nations and administrations on best practices.

Besides developing the sector from a strategic point of view, the UAE has gone the extra mile to ensure the rights of seafarers and empower more females to take active part in the industry.

Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said, "As a signatory of the MLC convention, the UAE takes proactive measures to safeguard the interests of seafarers, aiming to improve the quality of life for seafarers. We were one of the first IMO Member States to designate seafarers as key workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supported seafarers by facilitating safe ship crew change, administering vaccinations, and providing them access to medical care."

Al Malek further added, "We have also been strongly championing women’s rights in the maritime sector. The UAE is currently chairing the Arab Women in the Maritime Association (AWIMA), which is working with the IMO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) to support women in the maritime sector to achieve the fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal of establishing gender equality. It is also one of the founding members of the IMOGENder, a network of IMO delegates working to achieve gender equality."

Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the IMO, said, "Through its membership in the International Maritime Organisation, the UAE seeks to continue contributing to developing strategies, policies, agreements and setting standards regulating the maritime sector. The UAE is a very active contributor to the IMO’s activities through its positive and effective engagement and participation in all the works of the Assembly, Council, main technical committees, sub-committees, and related working groups."

The UAE is a founding member of the Riyadh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to achieve safe, secure and efficient shipping in the maritime jurisdictions in the Arabian Gulf. Being a flag state, the UAE ranks 21st worldwide in terms of fleet size. It has more than 20 major ports spread across from Fujairah in the East to Abu Dhabi in Southwest on the UAE coast.

Emirates

Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Tarapaca Region, Chile

SANTIAGO, 26th March, 2023 (WAM) – A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the Tarapaca region in Chile on Saturday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said.

The quake was at a depth of 155 kilometers (96.31 miles) below the earth's surface, according to Reuters.

Emirates

RTA introduces Comprehensive Digital Experience Lab

DUBAI, 26th March 2023 (WAM) — Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced the pioneering Comprehensive Digital Experience Lab, a first-of-its-kind initiative among Dubai Government organisations.
The Lab aims to bolster the quality of customer service provided via digital channels and enhance employees' experience with digital systems by engaging relevant personnel in digital service design stages.
The Lab enhances the quality and design of services from customers' perspectives while simultaneously improving and standardising their experiences across various digital channels. It also boosts the customer happiness index, the adoption of digital services and supplies the necessary technologies and skilled personnel to operate the Lab.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, stated during a tour of the facility, “The establishment of the Comprehensive Digital Experiment Lab aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance the well-being of Dubai and its global competitiveness. It also contributes to offering a variety of choices for residents to transform Dubai into the world’s best city for living.
“The Lab also embodies the instructions of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council, to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city. This involves delivering comprehensive, interconnected, and proactive digital experiences for customers to ensure maximum happiness with the RTA's services. This drive aligns with the Services 360 Policy, which seeks to provide seamless and forward-thinking services across all digital platforms to measure up to customer aspirations,” he explained.
“The RTA is committed to playing a leading role in service digitisation by mapping out a comprehensive roadmap for automating services and tasks. It also strives to enhance artificial intelligence and data sciences, improve the operational efficiency through optimising the use of the existing resources, and expand the scope of digital partnerships and innovation,” Al Tayer added.
Mohammed Yousef Al Mudharreb, CEO of the Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, said, “The Lab has been designed in line with the world’s best practices, utilising international expertise and benchmarks from leading international companies. It features a dedicated test room for customers to evaluate services and engage with various experiments through guided sessions, trialling specific services on apps or alternative digital platforms.”
“By applying a range of tools, software, and devices, operators can gain insight into user behaviour to enhance and refine experiences. For example, CCTV cameras and eye-tracking instruments will record the user’s interactions with the service, which are then represented on heat maps displaying areas of focus and inattention. Accordingly, it enables the analysis of strengths and weaknesses, allowing for targeted improvements to the service based on customer reactions and attitudes,” he continued.
“The Lab also includes an observation room for monitoring the testing process or engaging in focus groups on service delivery. The room has screens that detect the customer's behaviour and interaction with the service on digital platforms,” Al Mudharreb added.
“The Comprehensive Digital Platform is a new concept in designing the User’s Experience. It focuses on engaging external and internal customers (employees) in various service design phases. The Lab has been used in key current projects such as RTA App, smart kiosks, and dashboards that serve the RTA’s decision-makers,” Al Mudharreb said in conclusion.

Emirates

Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme issues 432 decisions worth AED 299 million

ABU DHABI, 26th March, 2023 (WAM) – The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme (SZHP), an initiative under the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), has issued 432 decisions for housing aid valued at AED 298.7 million. This includes applications for house construction, completion, purchase, maintenance, and upgrade. The move is part of the Initiatives of the UAE President and is pursuant to the order of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to complete all housing grant applications submitted to the Programme, at a total cost of around AED 2.3 billion.
Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said: “As we welcome the holy month of Ramadan, the month of giving, SZHP continues its endeavors to enhance family stability, ensure decent living, and improve the quality of life of UAE citizens. The UAE’s wise leadership is deeply invested in the government housing sector as it helps build a cohesive society that can contribute to the progress of our nation.”
Eng Mohamed Al Mansouri, Director of SZHP, said: “We have set ambitious plans to meet the growing housing needs of UAE citizens. We work closely with our partners from the federal and local government, the private sector, and the banking sector to achieve these plans. The Programme follows in the steps of the founding father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by contributing to the social wellbeing and prosperity of the people.”