A mission to build new and durable bridges between Italy and the UAE is what motivates the country’s ambassador to the Emirates.
Lorenzo Fanara said he is committed to building a better tomorrow, describing working with the UAE on cultural diplomacy as an antidote to the “sea of troubles” around the world.
In a wide-ranging interview with The National to mark Italian National Day on Sunday, Mr Fanara reflected on the relaunch of relations between the two countries, and on issues from Gaza to illegal immigration.
Italians sometimes forget that part of our identity is also rooted in Arab culture
Lorenzo Fanara,
Italian ambassador to the UAE
He said relations between Italy and the UAE were “really excellent”, with ties spanning the economy, culture, technology, food security and climate.
“There are many sectors where there has been a clear, concrete partnership,” he said.
Italian companies have been in the UAE for decades, operating in everything from construction to afforestation efforts. Marble that adorns the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was quarried in Italy, while an Italian firm completed mosaics on Qasr Al Watan.
Mr Fanara said the UAE and Italy were natural partners for many years but went through challenging times in 2020 and 2021, leading to efforts to “relaunch” their relationship. This was a priority when he was appointed as ambassador in 2022.
He said there had been an “intense political dialogue” over the past few years to achieve this, with 18 visits to the UAE in the past year-and-a-half alone.
“Relations have been relaunched,” he said. “I think we have achieved this goal.”
He highlighted the pivotal visit of Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, in 2023, during which she held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed. Relations were upgraded during the visit to a “strategic partnership”.
Mr Fanara said there was an “incredible, strong” personal rapport between the two leaders and also “common ground on how they see the world”.
Cementing this, the Italian mission this month was honoured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of its excellence awards, while current statistics show just how successful this relaunch has been.
Bilateral trade reached €8.7 billion ($9.4 billion) in 2023 – up 8.6 per cent on 2022, with €6.6 billion in Italian exports, statistics from the embassy show. In the first two months of 2024 alone, trade has surged by as much as 34.7 per cent on last year.
Around 20,000 Italians call the UAE home – up from about 7,000 10 years ago – with business opportunities driving the increase. The Italian presence ranges from major energy companies such as Eni to sectors from hospitality to construction.
More than 600 Italian companies operate in the Emirates with exports including industrial machines and jewels. A joint venture to build military ships was recently agreed between UAE defence conglomerate Edge and Italy’s Fincantieri.
Mr Fanara said another “fundamental” goal for him was boosting cultural diplomacy.
An Italian film festival takes place next week, while during his tenure the famed Teatro alla Scala from Milan, a Puccini festival and the ballet of the Roma Opera have come to the UAE, which “had a huge impact”.
Moral duty in Gaza
Mr Fanara said Italy had sent humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza, while Italian medics in the UAE had treated Palestinians brought to the Emirates for care.
“We are trying to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population,” he said. “It is not only a political call, but a moral duty.”
The envoy said Italy “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the Hamas attack against the Israeli population on October 7, but Israel also needed to respect international law.
Mr Fanara said humanitarian aid and de-escalation was important and Italy was pursuing this in the context of its G7 presidency with a summit scheduled for June.
Several European countries have recognised the state of Palestine. Mr Fanara said this was their sovereign right but Italy’s position had been consistent for decades.
“There is only one solution for permanent peace – a two-state solution,” he said.
Turning to the EU-led force in the Red Sea that aims to ensure safety of navigation, Mr Fanara said Italy has the tactical command of the operation, which was “not an aggressive” one.
He also highlighted how a Venetian merchant, Gasparo Balbi, was among the first to write about what is now the UAE on his voyages in search of natural pearls in the 16th century. A copy of the book sits in Qasr Al Watan.
“Italians sometimes forget that part of our identity is also rooted in Arab culture,” he said.
Tackling illegal immigration
Mr Fanara has held several important roles during his career, including political counsellor at the Italian embassy to the UK during Brexit and, most recently, ambassador to Tunisia.
It is the latter post that means he is attuned to the immigration issue affecting Italy for the past decade and dominating the agenda in many European countries ahead of the June European Parliament elections.
“I come from the southern part of Sicily, where the island of Lampedusa is located,” he said, referring to the point where many migrants from North Africa arrive in Italy.
“One of the most inhuman tragedies I've ever seen in my life … African people who drowned at sea trying to reach Lampedusa,” he said.
“Once people die … this means all of us, the international community, is defeated. The important thing is also to save lives.”
Mr Fanara said people smuggling was an illegal and immoral business but he was not worried about the elections amid concerns the far-right could exploit immigration fears.
He said Europe needs migration but it had to be legal and regulated, and was a humanitarian issue as much as a political one.
He pointed to the International Conference on Development and Migration in Rome last year, attended by Sheikh Mohamed, where he announced $100 million (Dh367 million) to help countries deal with large numbers of illegal migrants reaching their borders.
President Sheikh Mohamed meets Italy's Giorgia Meloni in 2023 – in pictures
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Range: Up to 610km
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
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How Apple's credit card works
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
* Associated Press
The five pillars of Islam
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We Weren’t Supposed to Survive But We Did
We weren’t supposed to survive but we did.
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We weren’t supposed to return but WE ARE.
Amira Sakalla
Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The years Ramadan fell in May
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
