Enec signs preliminary agreement with UAE Cyber Security Council

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) has signed a preliminary agreement with the UAE Cyber Security Council for the development of new strategies and policies to enhance cyber security in the energy sector.

The two entities will exchange information and expertise on cyber security-related matters, with Enec providing experts for the establishment of a national-level security operations centre, according to a statement from Enec on Sunday.

“Cyber security is a critical focus for Enec as we work to ensure we are well-equipped to mitigate any potential cyber challenges,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, managing director and chief executive of Enec.

“By working closely with the UAE Cyber Security Council, we are committed to sharing best practices and ensuring the UAE strengthens its position as a world leader in innovation with the most advanced cyber systems.”

The new agreement comes as cyber risks continue to rise across the globe, posing risks to critical infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.

Online criminal activity cost the world about $6 trillion last year, according to a study by research company Cybersecurity Ventures. By 2025, such crimes will be expected to cost the world about $10.5tn, up 250 per cent from $3tn in 2015, it said.

Nearly $22tn in collective rated debt associated with more than 70 global rating sectors has high or very high exposure to cyber risks in 2022, with critical infrastructure experiencing the highest risk, Moody's Investors Service said in a recent report.

Sectors that significantly rely on data, most notably utilities, are the most attractive targets for cyber attacks, according to Moody's.

The agreement with Enec “aims to unite efforts and capabilities in order to develop and disseminate modern technologies that enhance and contribute to the establishment of protected infrastructure”, said Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cyber security with the UAE government.

The UAE Cyber Security Council and Enec will also collaborate to develop and conduct exercises for the energy sector to respond to any cyber incidents, the statement said.

The two entities are also set to host the CyberEnergy Leadership Forum in 2023, a national-level forum for sharing information on key issues related to cyber security strategy and implementation after the success of the first CyberEnergy Leadership Forum held last month, it said.

Enec, which is part of Abu Dhabi's holding company, ADQ is developing the Barakah nuclear power plant to boost the clean energy capacity of the UAE. The third unit of the 5,600 megawatts power plant recently started operations and was connected to the grid.

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England's lowest Test innings

- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887

- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994

- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009

- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948

- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888

- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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.

RESULTS

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, Andrea Atzeni, Charles Hills
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: New Trails, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Mnasek, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: D’bai, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Summer Romance, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson