Emirates airline aims to add new destinations in China over the next year, as the UAE and the world's second-largest economy aim to deepen trade and investment ties in sectors from renewables to health care.
The countries are focusing on key sectors including green energy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, health care and advanced manufacturing, in addition to the more traditional industries of energy and infrastructure, company executives and government officials said at the UAE-China Business Forum on Thursday.
To help with the movement of people and goods, the Dubai-based airline plans to increase flight frequencies and open new routes in China, Nabil Sultan, executive vice president of passenger sales and country management at Emirates, said during a panel discussion at the forum.
The number and timing of the new routes to China will depend on bilateral negotiations between the two countries, Mr Sultan told The National on the sidelines of the event. Emirates is currently operating to the full extent of its air traffic rights, he said.
"We'll be able to get something in the pipeline over the next year ... we reckon hopefully in the first quarter of next year, where we might see some addition both in terms of frequency and new destinations," Mr Sultan said.
Emirates currently flies to three destinations in China from Dubai. It operates 14 flights each to Shanghai and Beijing every week, and a daily flight to the port city of Guangzhou.
"The Chinese market is massive and it's really opening up in a big way," Mr Sultan said, referencing the Chinese government's move to provide visas for more nationalities, including visitors from Europe, that will further stimulate inbound tourism.
Beijing has also doubled the number of countries for which Chinese travellers can obtain visas to 130 this year, compared with only 60 last year.
"There is a huge change in the demographic and dynamics of how the Chinese market is operating," Mr Sultan said. "We've seen more and more younger generations who have the purchasing power to go on holidays, they are tech-savvy, they speak English and they're international travellers. So we're going to see a lot of these younger generations embarking on these journeys."
Emirates last year carried more than a million passengers between Dubai and China, including holidaymakers, business travellers and students, the executive said.
"The Chinese market is probably at the brink of real expansion and we believe adding capacity there is the right way forward. As bilateral agreements come to flourish, we will come to more and more capacity going into China," Mr Sultan said.
Emirates operates about 35 flights into China each week, using its Boeing 777 wide-bodies, and is assessing the potential for an upgrade to the bigger Airbus A380 double-decker. "All of that is under the microscope now," he said.
In terms of the movement of goods from China, Emirates sees big opportunities for air freight, with Dubai as a re-export hub for products heading onwards to other destinations in the region and beyond.
"We're positioned perfectly geographically to act like an extending arm for Chinese logistics investors. The biggest challenge is that all the capacity out of China is completely chock-a-block. There are huge constraints on capacity due to the current geopolitical scene and the Red Sea challenges in maritime industry," he said.
Those challenges in the Red Sea mean air freight is a faster solution to transport goods, he added.
Boost to UAE-China ties
During a speech at the forum late on Thursday, Abdulla bin Touq, UAE Minister of Economy, urged Chinese companies to “benefit from the abundance of economic opportunities that the UAE’s business environment enjoys”.
He called on Chinese companies to expand their presence across various sectors, including tourism, aviation, the circular economy, FinTech, e-commerce, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, health care, smart transportation and sustainable manufacturing.
The total number of Chinese businesses operating in UAE markets has reached about 15,500, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the UAE reached 1.2 million in 2023, an increase of 213 per cent from 2022, he added. There are currently 44 flights operated by the UAE’s national carriers connecting the two countries every week.
This comes as the number of Chinese companies entering the Dubai market is on the rise. In the first eight months of this year, 1,004 new Chinese companies registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year. That takes the total number of active Chinese members to 5,480 during the period, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, chairman of Dubai Chambers, told The National on the sidelines of the forum.
The number of new Chinese companies registered with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce is expected to grow 30 per cent year-on-year to reach about 6,000 by the end of 2024, Mr Al Ghurair said.
Dubai International Chambers, which attracts foreign investment into the UAE and assists domestic companies in overseas expansion, has offices in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the most it has in another country.
The forum was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, while the visiting delegation was led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
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
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
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
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Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
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Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
MATCH INFO
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Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
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RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
