MENA region states should co-operate to develop energy infrastructure as they seek to meet the region's increasing demand for oil, gas and electricity, says a senior Dubai energy official.
Nejib Zaafrani, the secretary general and chief executive of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, said the region should meet the challenge of supplying energy to its rapidly expanding population by using it as an opportunity to work together on "visionary" projects.
"Energy is at the core," Mr Zaafrani said yesterday at the World Economic Forum summit in Dubai during a public debate on energy security.
Mr Zaafrani, a Tunisian national, proposed that the governments of MENA states should consider addressing large, intra-regional disparities in domestic gas supply with a pipeline network linking the Maghreb to the Gulf region.
Currently, the only international gas pipelines linking Arab states in the Middle East are the Pan-Arab pipeline from Egypt to Jordan and Syria and the Dolphin Energy pipeline from Qatar to the UAE.
Additional pipelines have been built to carry gas to Europe from the north African exporters Algeria and Libya.
Those states are also expanding their coastal pipeline systems as new gasfields are brought into production and gas demand from domestic users rises.
"You could make interconnectivity between the north African pipelines to trigger the thought of a regional network," Mr Zaafrani suggested on the sidelines of the meeting.
Such a project would then require high-level, government-to-government discussions and leadership initiatives to carry it forward, he added.
Mr Zaafrani also urged regional co-operation on nuclear development and suggested Abu Dhabi's nuclear programme could act as a catalyst due to the high standards established.
"They have been called the 'golden standards' and it is good to hear that because golden standards are all about safety," he told the forum.
"I think the best in the world has been brought into these standards."
Governments in the MENA region should carefully consider and consult each other on whether each state needs its own nuclear programme, Mr Zaafrani said.
A more efficient deployment of joint resources might be for some to act as regional centres of excellence for nuclear expertise while exporting electricity to their neighbours.
tcarlisle@thenational.ae
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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
Studying addiction
This month, Dubai Medical College launched the Middle East’s first master's programme in addiction science.
Together with the Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, the college offers a two-year master’s course as well as a one-year diploma in the same subject.
The move was announced earlier this year and is part of a new drive to combat drug abuse and increase the region’s capacity for treating drug addiction.
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
AIR
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
