Photovoltaic panels on a power plant. The long-term benefits of renewable energy for households and industrial consumers are cheaper energy and the flexibility to change providers. Photo: AFP
Photovoltaic panels on a power plant. The long-term benefits of renewable energy for households and industrial consumers are cheaper energy and the flexibility to change providers. Photo: AFP

Abu Dhabi to host large Chinese delegation on renewables



Abu Dhabi is set to double the representation of Chinese firms  at this year's Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), as the oil producer looks to meet the displacement of oil with cleaner sources of energy in some of its largest markets for fossil fuel.

Opening on January 13, Chinese representation at the sustainability week, which brings together world leaders, policymakers, thought leaders, decision makers, experts, scientists, business leaders and academics, is set to almost double with some of China's top renewables firms represented at the week-long exhibition.

Six companies in the top 10 exhibitors at the event are Chinese, said a spokesman for ADSW, adding that the number of Chinese exhibitors totalled 37, up from 21 last year. Trina Solar, JA Solar, JinkoSolar, Longi Lerri, Canadian Solar, Yingli Solar and Suntech are among the Chinese companies represented at ADSW.

"Around 10,000 business meetings are being set up," the spokesman added, declining to add the number visitors registered to attend this year's event.

Last year's ADSW saw 38,000 attendees and more than 600 companies from 30 countries represented.

There has been growing strategic energy-focused partnerships between the UAE and China. In 2015 the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding, which included collaboration on research and development of renewable energy sources, while the UAE’s Mubadala Investment Company teamed up with China Development Bank Capital and China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange to create a US$10 billion investment fund, which included renewable energy in its purview.

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Since then JinkoSolar has become one of two key partners for the development of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority’s flagship 1.17 gigawatt solar power plant in Sweihan, known as Noor Abu Dhabi. In September Shanghai Power was one of two successful bidders selected to build a 700 megawatt extension to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Complex for the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

“We have seen the strategic UAE-China relationship grow from one in which China was a modest purchaser of oil, to now, the two countries have decided to partner in investing across the One Belt One Road region,” said Afshin Molavi, a co-director of the Emerge85 Lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, speaking ahead of his appearance at ADSW. “It's quite significant because that's strategic investing," he added.

The World Future Energy Summit, which will feature ministerial sessions and executive level panel sessions, will begin on January 15 and run for the rest of ADSW.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80

Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
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  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800