The UAE’s exports of aluminium to Japan rose more than 41 per cent last year, making it the largest supplier of the metal from the Arabian Gulf last year, according to the latest trade figures from Jetro Dubai.
Overall two-way trade between the two countries, however, rose a marginal 0.54 per cent to $51.29 billion last year from $51.01bn in 2013. Japan’s exports to the UAE gained 12 per cent in 2014 and imports fell slightly amid a price in the drop of crude.
Japan bought $730.9 million worth of aluminium from the UAE in 2014, versus $517m the previous year.
The metal has been at the forefront of the UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy from being overly reliant on hydrocarbons.
That has become especially urgent after crude oil lost half its value last year amid an increase in supply from North America and waning demand from emerging markets such as China.
The value, however, of Japanese aluminium imports from the UAE may decline next year if the price of the precious metal continues to slip.
The price of aluminium traded in London has dropped 2.3 per cent this year amid an increase in production from China.
Still, overall the value of total Japanese imports from the UAE dropped to $41.78bn last year from $42.52bn in 2013, with the lion’s share, $31.97bn, going to buy crude oil versus $33.28bn in 2013.
Meanwhile, Japanese exports to the UAE gained about 12 per cent to $9.5bn compared with $8.49bn in 2013, boosted by a 31 per cent increase in passenger car sales, which cost the UAE a total of $3.39bn.
While crude oil prices declined in 2014, the US dollar, to which the UAE dirham is pegged, gained against most of the world’s currencies last year, and that allowed the country to import more for less from countries such as Japan.
Japan is the UAE’s biggest export partner, constituting 17.1 per cent of the value of all exports, while it is the fifth biggest source of imports after India, China, the United States and Germany, according to statistics on a government website.
The Japanese have also been ramping up their ties with the UAE to produce other metals. Senaat, the state-owned Abu Dhabi-based holding corporation, said last month it has entered a joint venture with two Japanese steel makers to build steel pipes for industrial use.
mkassem@thenational.ae
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
SPECS
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Four tips to secure IoT networks
Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:
- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version
- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number
- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently
- Always create a different guest network for visitors
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The%20Kitchen
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