Abu Dhabi Investment Office added local cycling shop Wolfi's to its Innovation Programme, which supports high-growth companies, in a partnership that seeks to promote sustainable tourism in the UAE capital.
Under the partnership, Adio will provide Wolfi’s with financial and non-financial incentives to boost cycling access and participation at events, which will lead to environment-friendly ways for tourists to discover Abu Dhabi’s attractions, Adio said in a statement on Monday.
"Wolfi’s will significantly boost the regional and international cycling communities’ interest in Abu Dhabi, with its state-of-the-art offering of bicycles, e-bikes and equipment, as well as the unparalleled expertise and innovation of its team," said Mohamed Al Dhaheri, acting executive director of Business Enterprise at Adio.
"We are excited by the partnership’s multifaceted benefits, which include enabling exploration and encouraging a healthy lifestyle, while aligning with Abu Dhabi’s overall tourism and cycling vision.”
Adio, the government body responsible for attracting and promoting investment in Abu Dhabi, is opening up tourism investment opportunities in the emirate through its Innovation Programme. Adio’s Dh2 billion ($545 million) programme, which was launched in 2020, has so far awarded total incentives of Dh1bn to 37 high-growth firms.
Companies in the Innovation Programme, a part of Abu Dhabi’s Dh50bn Ghadan 21 initiative, operate in tech-focused industries. Thirteen information and communications technology sector companies, nine agriculture technology, eight health services and biopharma firms and seven financial services companies are part of the programme.
Wolfi’s, a long-standing player in the cycling community, is the first company within the tourism sector that Adio has added to the programme, in line with the emirate’s goal to attract investment to sustainable tourism.
Abu Dhabi is also seeking to become a global cycling destination by strengthening its cycling infrastructure.
With Adio's backing, Wolfi’s is developing showrooms across Abu Dhabi in four destinations – Hudayriyat, the new Reem Mall on Reem Island, Yas Marina Circuit and the Abu Dhabi Cycling Club’s new retail and track facilities in Al Ain – offering a range of bicycles to buy or rent near Abu Dhabi’s cycling destinations.
“Abu Dhabi is continuing its tourism push, as it seeks to diversify its economy towards high value-added areas," Mohamed Al Shorafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said.
"Adio's Innovation Programme offers a boost to ambitious companies looking to participate in the vast opportunities within the emirate’s growing tourism industry by helping them leverage the emirate’s advantages as a destination."
Abu Dhabi is working with the private sector to create jobs, attract talent, develop infrastructure and diversify its economy from oil.
Wolfi’s will also develop “Made in Abu Dhabi” electronic bicycles suited to the local terrain, making it easier to explore the emirate’s cycling network, according to the statement.
The partnership marks a "vital milestone" for Wolfi's, the company said.
“With Adio coming on board as a partner, we will have an experienced government partner that will assist us in accelerating the roll-out of our strategic roadmap of promoting the cycling culture and tourism in the UAE capital, with a focus on community involvement, which we believe is an important part of the emirate's sustainable tourism initiatives," Wolfgang Hohmann, founder and chief executive of Wolfi’s, said.
Wolfi’s expansion to Abu Dhabi is expected to boost the local cycling community, Adio said.
About 1.2 million people have attended its weekly rides and online events.
The company will base its e-commerce and customer service support team in Abu Dhabi. It will also engage with schools to promote cycling education.
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Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
If you go
- The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
- The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
- The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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