Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has merged Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) with Sharjah Oasis for Technology and Innovation (SOTI).
Under the merger, SRTIP will absorb SOTI and combine the organisations’ resources and expertise to form an independent free zone authority.
Since Sheikh Dr Sultan established SRTIP in 2016, it has operated as a collaboration between industry, government and academia with oversight from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) Enterprise Programme.
Under a new decree, AUS's oversight will be replaced by an independent board of directors to be chaired by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi that will manage and represent the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park Free Zone Authority.
"Merging SRTIP and SOTI, and formalising SRTIP’s role as an independent Free Zone Authority means we can make bigger strides in our mission to support the entrepreneurship ecosystem and develop the knowledge economy in Sharjah and the UAE," said Sheikha Bodour.
“Under the stewardship of AUS, SRTIP has been hugely successful in enhancing Sharjah’s standing as an innovator in the technology sector.
"It has created an attractive and dynamic business environment for more than 2,000 companies specialising in advanced innovative technologies, which have invested more than $100 million in their research.
"The time is right to reach higher and underscore Sharjah’s position as a leading global destination for innovation, business, and entrepreneurship. The establishment of a diverse and experienced board of directors to guide and support the vision of SRTIP is an important step on that path."
The new board will support and develop innovation at the park, as well as improve the emirate's position as a global destination for research and technology.
It will develop talent and enhance the emirate's competitiveness by attracting and encouraging institutions and companies specialised in the field of innovation.
The board will attract investment and support local innovators and support them in establishing their own companies.
It will also look to support and encourage research ideas that can be transformed into tangible products.
The new board will put together legislation that contributes to the involvement of teaching staff and students in launching their own projects.
The board will also determine and organise the businesses and activities that are licensed to be practised within the park and prepare the rules, conditions, requirements and procedures for licensing such businesses and activities.
It will also invest in start-up companies registered in the park.
The board will also be able to sign agreements with other free zones to enable the companies and institutions of the park to conduct business in those zones or vice versa.
The new board members are: Prince Khaled bin Waleed, founding chairman, KBW Investments and founder and chief executive of KBW Ventures; Sheikh Dr Majid Al Qassimi, founding partner of Soma Mater; Dr Abdelaziz Almheiri, chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority; Adel Ali, chief executive of Air Arabia Group; Ahmed Al Qaseer, chief executive of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Najla Al Midfa, chief executive of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa); Khaled Al Huraimel, chief executive of BEEAH Group; Dr Aisha bin Bishr, vice chairman of Emaar Development; Alisha Moopen, deputy managing director, Aster DM Healthcare; Abdulaziz Loughani, chief executive of Floward; Faizal Kottikollon, founder and chairman of KEF Holdings; Samer Sayegh, managing director of National Paints Factories and Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and chief executive of Careem.
To ensure a smooth leadership transition, senior officials from University of Sharjah, AUS and SRTIP are also invited to join the new board of directors: Hamid Al Naimiy, chancellor of the University of Sharjah; Dr Susan Mumm, chancellor of AUS, and Hussain Al Mahmoudi, chief executive of (SRTIP.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
All or Nothing
Amazon Prime
Four stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars
Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
Nick Coleman
Jonathan Cape
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- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Wednesday and the pair embraced but he failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
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Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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