Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the World Governments Summit next week. AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the World Governments Summit next week. AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the World Governments Summit next week. AP
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the World Governments Summit next week. AP

Indian PM Modi to attend Dubai's World Government Summit as agenda is announced


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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will take part in next week's World Governments Summit.

The three leaders will lead high-level delegations from their countries, which have been named guests of honour at the 11th annual global gathering.

They will be among more than 25 world leaders and heads of state attending the summit at Madinat Jumeirah.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and chairman of the World Governments Summit, said the selection of the three countries as guests of honour reflected their deep-rooted ties with the UAE.

The agenda for the summit was announced on Wednesday night.

This year's summit – which runs from February 12 to 14 – will feature more than 4,000 delegates from the public and private sectors, including 200 speakers from 80 international, regional and intergovernmental organisations such as the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Arab League.

It will include 15 conferences aimed at defining the future of AI, government services, urbanisation, education and smart mobility.

There will be six additional conferences to cover health, sustainable development, future economies and advanced technology.

Preparing for the future

The opening pre-summit day of the event – held under the theme "Shaping Future Governments" – on Sunday will feature the Arab Fiscal Forum, in which Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, will address delegates.

The forum will explore economic developments, energy subsidiary reforms and social safety nets.

Other key events on Sunday will include the Arab Meeting for Young Leaders, the World Bank Group Ministerial Experience Exchange and the Ministerial Roundtable with Arab Youth Ministers.

Other sessions during the week will include as the Future of Work Forum and the Future of Mobility Forum taking centre stage.

A ministerial meeting on climate action through sustainable finance, a family business conference, and another addressing scientific discovery and applications, with input from a group of Nobel laureates, will also take place.

A geo-technology and policy forum and another on artificial intelligence will also be stagd.

Topics to be discussed vary from AI challenges and opportunities through the space economy to decarbonisation.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, will address a key session during the summit.

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, will take part in a session on the new government vision for creative industries.

Panels taking place on February 14 will include forums focused on the future of space, education and global health.

Several awards will be handed out during the international conference, including the annual best minister in the world title and an accolade for global government excellence.

Global line-up

Rwanda President Paul Kagame will be part of the World Governments Summit. Photo: AFP
Rwanda President Paul Kagame will be part of the World Governments Summit. Photo: AFP

Other heads of state attending the event include Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and Kenyan President William Ruto.

Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives, Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun and Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan will also be present.

Key players in the evolution of the technology sector such as OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman and Jensen Huang, chief executive, co-founder and president of the Nvidia Corporation, will also help to shape the debate.

Modi's UAE tour

Mr Modi's appearance at the World Governments Summit will come in a week in which the Indian leader already has two high-profile engagements in the Emirates.

He will address the Indian community at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City stadium on February 13.

More than 30,000 people had already registered to attend the major event as of January 25.

Mr Modi will conclude his tour by inaugurating the capital’s first Hindu temple on February 14.

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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Emirates exiles

Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.

Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.

Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.

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Price, base / as tested Dh135,000

Engine 1.6L turbo

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Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm

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Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to volunteer

The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

Tearful appearance

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 Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

The Uefa Awards winners

Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)

Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League

Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)

Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)

Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona

Richard Jewell

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley

Two-and-a-half out of five stars 

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Updated: February 11, 2024, 10:23 AM`