The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has teamed up with Emirates Global Industries – Alfahim Group to establish a new industrial centre aimed at boosting the emirate's electric vehicle sector.
The partnership, formalised in a preliminary agreement, will see the creation of a manufacturing plant for electric buses and lorries, in addition to developing energy storage and charging solutions for a number of industries and applications, the department said in a statement on Wednesday.
Both groups will work on the development of the transport and green solutions sector, as well as introducing training and qualification programmes for UAE citizens seeking careers in EV manufacturing, in co-operation with key private sector players, the statement said.
The agreement is in line with the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, the government's plan to more than double the size of the manufacturing sector to Dh172 billion ($46.8 billion), create 13,600 skilled jobs and increase non-oil exports by 143 per cent to Dh178.8 billion by 2031.
“This partnership signals a milestone in our journey towards closer co-operation with the private sector in the field of manufacturing," Arafat Al Yafei, executive director of the Industrial Development Bureau, the department's arm mandated to develop and regulate the industrial sector, said in the statement.
"We are committed to providing comprehensive support to leading industry players through initiatives of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy."
The UAE is seeking to become a leader in smart transport systems as part of its efforts to promote and integrate sustainability, with Abu Dhabi at the forefront of the efforts.
In October, the UAE capital launched the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster, a programme aimed at establishing Abu Dhabi as a major centre for the development of high-tech vehicles, to further diversify the economy and create thousands of jobs.
The new partnership reflects a commitment to "sustainable transport and mobility solutions through investment in the government-targeted sectors of assembly and manufacturing", said Ahmad Alfahim, chairman of Alfahim Group.
"The Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy provided us with a clear vision and opportunities to enhance our growth. Teaming up with [the department] and our other global partners will boost utilisation of electric commercial vehicle technology while fostering economic prosperity and environmental conservation in Abu Dhabi and beyond.”
Normcore explained
Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.
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Sector: e-commerce
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
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if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
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Results
2.30pm: Dubai Creek Tower – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Marmara Xm, Gary Sanchez (jockey), Abdelkhir Adam (trainer)
3pm: Al Yasmeen – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: AS Hajez, Jesus Rosales, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.30pm: Al Ferdous – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Soukainah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
4pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah – Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: AF Thayer, Ray Dawson, Ernst Oertel
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup – Handicap (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: George Villiers, Antonio Fresu, Bhupat Seemar
5pm: Palma Spring – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Es Abu Mousa, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
