The UK-based software development company Godel Technologies is aiming to gain new clients and hire the more employees in the UAE as it joins the NextGenFDI programme — a new government initiative that supports digitally-enabled businesses.
Under the initiative, the company will move its regional headquarters to the Dubai International Financial Centre, joining nearly 600 other digitally-enabled businesses, the Ministry of Economy said in a statement on Tuesday.
Goldel also plans to create 250 new job opportunities within two years.
“The UAE continues its efforts to attract FDI [foreign direct investment], innovative minds and talent,” Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said.
“Attracting leading global businesses such as Godel Technologies to invest and expand in the country’s markets reflects the initiative’s promising potentials, following its launch last July,” Dr Al Zeyoudi said.
The UAE, the Arab world's second-largest economy, is taking various measures to attract more FDI into the country.
Its NextGenFDI initiative offers multiple incentives to digital companies, including faster business set-up processes, banking readiness, simpler visa procedures and attractive commercial and residential real estate options.
It complements other programmes such as the National Programme for Coders, which is offering golden visas to 100,000 coders.
Founded in 2002, Godel currently employs more than 1,800 staff across its offices in the UK, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Georgia and Ukraine. It specialises in areas such as software engineering, quality assurance, automation, data engineering, agile consulting, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and mobile solutions.
“The opportunity to be part of the NextGenFDI programme will give Godel Technologies beneficial access to market entry fundamentals,” Neil McMurdo, Godel’s chief executive, said.
“The initiative will support our ambitious plans to grow to 250 people over the next two years and we look forward to establishing the Godel brand at the heart of one of the UAE’s leading financial hubs.”
Godel currently serves various industries such as e-commerce, finance, energy, automotive, travel, manufacturing and retail.
It has become the second company to join the NextGenFDI programme. Krush Brands, a full-stack food technology company, was the first to join under the scheme.
Launched last month by the UAE government with seven strategic partners, NextGenFDI targets approximately 300 digitally-enabled companies and aims to attract skilled programmers, data scientists and tech engineers within the next three years.
The UAE was ranked first in the Arab world and 19th globally in terms of FDI inflows, according to the World Investment Report 2022 issued by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) in June.
The country attracted $20.7 billion worth of FDI last year, up 4 per cent from 2020.
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
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4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
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15 Lebanese teams
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1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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The five pillars of Islam
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UK-EU trade at a glance
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GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins