Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, on Monday held talks with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as part of an official visit to the country.
Sheikh Khaled and Mr Tokayev witnessed the signing of several deals across vital sectors such as artificial intelligence, health care, renewable energy and infrastructure during discussions held at the Presidential Palace, in the capital city, Astana.
The agreements struck include a partnership between the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the Turkestan Region Administration to finance the construction of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Maternity Hospital in the Turkestan Region.
Abu Dhabi's clean-energy company Masdar ratified a deal with Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy – first announced in November – to build a one-gigawatt wind farm in support of a broader renewable energy drive.
Masdar will also collaborate with Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, to develop a "round-the-clock" energy project with a total base load capacity of up to 500 megawatts and a battery energy storage system with total capacity of up to 2 gigawatts.
AIQ, an Abu-Dhabi based artificial intelligence specialist, is to work with Samruk-Kazyna to harness the advanced technology to boost the performance and efficiency of Kazakhstan’s oil and gas sector.
Other agreements were finalised to bolster links in fields such as aviation, road and maritime transport and finance and investment.
In January last year, the UAE and Kazakhstan signed a preliminary agreement to explore investment opportunities in data centres and artificial intelligence.
Sheikh Khaled and Mr Tokayev later visited Astana International Financial Centre. Here, Sheikh Khaled highlighted his keenness for the UAE and Kazakhstan to build partnerships between financial institutions to promote economic growth.
Warm welcome
Sheikh Khaled and Mr Tokayev had earlier inspected a military guard of honour at an official reception ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, during which the national anthems of both countries were played.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince greeted Kazakh ministers and senior officials during the event.
Sheikh Khaled arrived in Kazakhstan on Sunday to begin an official visit aimed at advancing bilateral ties. He was welcomed at Astana International Airport by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and a number of senior officials.
Sheikh Khaled has been joined by a high-level delegation comprising several ministers and government officials.
They travelled to the Central Asian country on the invitation of Mr Tokayev, the state news agency Wam reported on Thursday.
Sheikh Khaled has undertaken a series of high-profile overseas engagements since being named Crown Prince in March 2023.
He represented the UAE at the funeral of Pope Francis last month, joining hundreds of foreign dignitaries and world leaders as at least 50,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, with another 200,000 estimated to have gathered in the surrounding area.
He held talks in November with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the G20 summit in Brazil.
Sheikh Khaled travelled to India for an official visit in September, during which he met the country's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
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.
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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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
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Company%20Profile
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
The five pillars of Islam
