Emirates

Sharjah receives ‘Guest of Honour’ title for FIL 2022

SHARJAH, 8th December, 2021 (WAM) — The Emirate of Sharjah has received the official ‘Guest of Honour’ title for the 36th edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL 2022), in celebration of Emirati and Arab culture and its eminent authors, writers and intellectuals.

As the first city to represent Emirati and Arab culture at a book fair in Mexico, the Guest of Honour status also recognises the achievements of the emirate’s prestigious cultural project.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), received the title from Manuel Gerardo Talavera, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru, during a ceremony at the conclusion of the 35th edition of FIL in the presence of Raúl Padilla López, President of FIL; Marisol Schulz Manaut, General Director of FIL; and a host of authors, publishers, and media personalities.

Peru is the Guest of Honour at the 2021 edition of the Guadalajara International Book Fair.

The Guadalajara International Book Fair is the most important cultural event in Latin America and receives hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Mexico and the region. Sharjah has been a participant at FIL for a decade and is the only representative of Arab culture in South America.

Ahmed Al Ameri said, "Under the directives and guidance of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate has been leading cross-cultural communication with nations across the world, introducing the Arab culture and literature, and highlighting the distinguished Emirati works. Today, it is enough to say: we are from Sharjah, as the emirate has become a synonym for books, literature, and knowledge internationally."

The SBA Chairman added, "Participating in FIL 2022 as Guest of Honour is an opportunity to introduce Latin America to Emirati and Arab cultures, especially as there has been an overwhelming interest amongst Spanish-speaking visitors to know more about Arab literature and its prominent intellectuals."

As the FIL 2022 Guest of Honour, Sharjah will present a vibrant cultural programme featuring seminars and discussions, showcase traditional Emirati art and craft, traditional shows presenting traditional Emirati song and dance, and highlight the Arabic culture through various art forms.

Raúl Padilla López, President of FIL, said, "With Sharjah’s presence as Guest of Honour at FIL 2022, we are looking forward to highlighting the rich Arabic culture and the valued diverse heritage of the region to our audiences here."

Manuel Gerardo Talavera, Ambassador of Peru to Mexico, said, "We are delighted to meet Sharjah here in Mexico and appreciate the immense cultural contributions undertaken by the emirate, under the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah, which has reinforced its leading status on the global cultural scene. The pioneering initiatives of the emirate have strengthened relations and cultural exchanges amongst nations."

Al Ameri presented the Peruvian Ambassador with a traditional Emirati coffee pot and cups adorned with Tally patterns designed by the Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council.

During its participation in FIL 2022, Sharjah will hold dialogues with Mexican authors, publishers, and intellectuals and organise meetings with publishers from Latin America to exchange expertise and advance knowledge-based sectors.

Emirates

RAK Ruler receives Ramadan well-wishers

RAS AL KHAIMAH, 23rd March, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today received Ramadan well-wishers, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.

He received the greetings of Sheikhs, senior officials and heads of local government departments in the country, as well as dignitaries and Emiratis, who congratulated the Ras Al Khaimah Ruler on the occasion of the holy month and wished him good health and further progress for the UAE, as well as development for the Muslim and Arab nations.

A number of senior officials from the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah attended the receptions.

Emirates

Brand Dubai launches fourth edition of Ramadan Recipes Guide

DUBAI, 23rd March, 2023 (WAM) — Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), has partnered with Dubai-based chefs and restaurants and cafés from its “Proudly from Dubai” (PFD) network to launch the fourth edition of the Ramadan Recipes Guide, featuring 30 original recipes for 30 days.

As part of the collaborative initiative, Brand Dubai has collected and curated simple-to-prepare Ramadan recipes inspired by the menus of 10 outlets and 10 chefs to inspire culinary creativity among the community this Ramadan.

The initiative seeks to support members of the PFD network by raising their visibility and offering them a platform to connect with their audience in innovative ways.

Fatma Almulla, City Branding Executive at Brand Dubai, said, “We are extremely excited to launch another edition of the Ramadan Recipes Guide, which has now expanded in scope to feature recipes not only from restaurants and cafés from the PFD network but also from successful Dubai-based chefs who are extremely popular among Dubai’s food-loving community.

"Launched as an annual initiative, the Ramadan Recipes Guide seeks to showcase the creativity and culinary talent of our members while providing them with additional exposure among the public. Apart from highlighting the city's passion for culinary excellence, this initiative supports various entrepreneurs to contribute to the diverse and dynamic food scene in Dubai.”

The newly-launched guide, which provides delicious and traditional recipes for Iftar and Suhoor, celebrates Dubai's culinary diversity and unique cultural blend as well as its emergence as a gastronomic hub, she said.

Almulla added that many of the recipes featured in the guide this year are unique in their concept, with some blending traditional cuisines with modern twists and international flavours.

The recipes provide a detailed step-by-step guide for preparing scrumptious sweet and savoury dishes for the family, including starter plates, soups, salads, main courses, desserts, snacks and Suhoor meals. This year, the guide will also feature wholesome, nutritious recipes that are vegan and gluten-free.

The recipes appeal to a wide range of palates and are inspired by an eclectic diversity of cuisines including Mediterranean, Emirati, American, Italian, Mexican and Scandinavian.

Many of the recipes featured in the guide have been developed by celebrity chefs who have started their journey from Dubai and launched their own restaurants. The chefs, representing various nationalities, also have a huge social media following, with some even earning a Michelin star for their high-quality dishes.

“Proudly from Dubai” is an initiative of Brand Dubai that aims to tell local and global audiences the success stories of exciting and innovative homegrown businesses and talent.

It also seeks to tell the story of innovation and creativity shaping Dubai’s emerging business and entrepreneurial culture.

Emirates

Mariam Almheiri highlights UAE’s ambition to scale collective action, innovative solutions to address global water challenge

NEW YORK, 23rd March, 2023 (WAM) — Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, underlined the UAE’s ambition to scale collective action and develop innovative solutions to address the global challenge of water scarcity.

Presenting to the United Nation Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting at the UN 2023 Water Conference, Almheiri said, “The stress on our water systems is contributing in ever-more concrete ways to food shortages, farmer-herder tensions and migration, ultimately undermining stability in the most fragile areas. With impacts of climate change manifesting most concretely through water – via droughts, flooding, tsunamis – these trends are only likely to worsen. The UAE will continue to work with its partners to ensure that the Council focuses on practical ways to warranty that climate risks inform its decision-making.”

The UAE is an elected member of the Security Council and Almheiri is leading the UAE delegation at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

The conference aims to raise the importance of water on the global agenda and accelerate action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal of clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Co-hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands, the conference opened on World Water Day, March 22.

The three-days-conference will feature several high-level official sessions, plenaries, special events and interactive dialogues organised by UN Member States, multilateral entities, and other stakeholders.

The UAE is developing more energy-efficient desalination plants; sharing knowledge to improve water harvesting; catalysing investment in water conservation technologies; raising awareness to change behaviours and consumption patterns; regulating to reduce the water footprint of homes and businesses; and forging international partnerships.

Almheiri will take part in the interactive dialogue, “Water for Climate, Resilience, and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience, and DRR”, co-chaired by Japan and Egypt.

The session will explore opportunities to strengthen convergence between intergovernmental processes and address the barriers to providing data and information for improved water management, climate resilience, early warning systems, and risk-informed decision-making.

Almheiri will participate in side events such as “From UN Water Conference to COP28: Accelerating Water and Climate Action” hosted by the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN, Netherlands, Tajikistan and UN Water. She will also take part in a session hosted by Egypt on"‘From COP27 to the UN 2023 Water Conf: Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARE)", where she will share the UAE’s experiences in addressing the challenge of water scarcity and climate change.

Almheiri will engage with global leaders, policymakers, and experts to identify innovative solutions to water challenges and advance progress toward sustainable water management, resilient ecosystems, and equitable access to water.