The UAE has engaged in a new round of talks with the Chinese Business Council in Dubai to enhance investments and expand partnerships as the two countries seek to align their economic vision for the future.
China, the world's second-largest economy, is a “very important” strategic partner for the Emirates in South-East Asia, with both having common economic fields of interest, Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said in a meeting with the Chinese Business Council in Dubai.
Dr Al Zeyoudi and representatives from the ministry met Wang Guihai, chairman of the CBC, and representatives from the Chinese companies that are part of the council.
The UAE and China “share the strategic visions and objectives through which a golden era of comprehensive economic relations between the two countries was established”, Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
“During the next stage, we look forward to expanding and diversifying the existing economic and commercial partnerships between the two countries.
“We intend to stimulate the flow of mutual investments, especially in the sectors of the future economy which serve the business communities and the development agenda of both the countries and support their transformation towards a more flexible and sustainable economy.”
The UAE and China have long-standing relations and share a strategic vision to co-operate in energy, technology, the green economy and the digital economy.
Bilateral trade during the first nine months of 2021 exceeded $49 billion, which is a 38 per cent increase on the same period in 2020, Chinese ambassador to the UAE Ni Jian told state news agency Wam in December.
Chinese non-financial direct investment flows to the UAE in 2020 were valued at $570 million, accounting for more than 47 per cent of the total Chinese investment in the Arab world, Mr Ni said.
More than 6,000 Chinese companies are present in the UAE's energy, ports, infrastructure, communications and finance sectors.
The UAE continued to prove its resilience during and after the coronavirus pandemic, moving up a place to 14th in the latest Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index compiled by consulting company Kearney.
The nation is also strengthening its trade relations with partners. Last week, Dr Al Zeyoudi said that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, a landmark deal between the UAE and India, will take effect on May 1.
During the meeting in Dubai, the UAE and the CBC discussed ways to enhance commercial activities between Chinese companies and their Emirati counterparts, and sought new measures to support investments and co-operation.
They emphasised their focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy and infrastructure, and discussed a creation of a joint strategy to attract talent in technology and other sectors of the future economy.
China is the UAE's first global trading partner and accounts for 12 per cent of its non-oil foreign trade, Dr Al Zeyoudi said, quoting Ministry of Economy data.
The Emirates, meanwhile, is China's second-largest trading partner in the Arab world, accounting for 20 per cent of total trade, he said.
The volume of UAE investments in China was estimated at around Dh2bn ($540 million) at the end of 2020.
The Emirates, on the other hand, ranks first in the Arab world among the list of the 20 most important countries in which China invests, with total investments in the country amounting to more than Dh34bn in the same period, Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
Non-oil intraregional trade between the two countries rose 27 per cent to Dh220bn in 2021.
“The comprehensive partnership between the UAE and China has been reflected through their innovative co-operation,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
The CBC, which is registered with the Dubai Chamber, was established in June 2004 and has 186 member companies investing in the UAE in sectors including energy, construction, communications, textiles, shipping, air transport, logistics, finance, services, furniture and exhibitions, among others.
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Ferrari
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
