SINGAPORE // A high-level delegation led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was given a close-up view of Singapore's success story during a two-day visit to the city state that ended yesterday.
In visits to some of Singapore's leading research and development centres, Sheikh Mohammed was given a view of the institutions fuelling Singapore's development, offering a model for the UAE.
On Tuesday, the delegation visited Singapore's twin research campuses, Fusionopolis and Biopolis. Dealing with innovations in physical and life sciences respectively, the two centres provide a potential model for collaboration between private and state agencies.
At Fusionopolis, Sheikh Mohammed was shown around a 3D, virtual Singapore, as well as being given demonstrations of a number of multimedia devices with potential for use in both education and business.
The technologies had been developed at the centre, with a view to being used both by government bodies and companies there, and marketed worldwide.
Yesterday, the delegation went to Government House, for a meeting with the Singapore president, SR Nathan, and the prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong.
The governments have drawn closer in recent years, with an increase in mutual investments. One official, who asked not to be named, called the visit "a follow-up on the successes that have been taking place in the past three years in things like joint ventures between the Singaporean and Abu Dhabi companies".
"There are many things that we're looking for," said Dr Ahmed al Mazrouei, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Health Authority.
"Singapore can sell and send so much know-how to the world, and the UAE and Abu Dhabi can do the same."
One aim of the visit was to see work on the ground, he added.
It followed Abu Dhabi's first Executive Leadership Forum, held in January, which gave the heads of 20 government departments the chance to explore how the governments of other nations worked.
Through the work of the Abu Dhabi-Singapore Joint Forum, launched in June 2007, the two cities have developed a strategic relationship in areas such as health, education, science and the civil service.
Trade between the two grew by more than 20 per cent between 2007 and 2008, when it was worth US$10 billion (Dh37bn).
Last year, the UAE was Singapore's second largest trading partner in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia. The UAE's foreign direct investments in the city state was worth more than $450 million in 2007, while Singaporean ventures in the emirate were worth an estimated US$5bn in 2008.
Abu Dhabi's First Gulf Bank already has an office in Singapore and heavyweights such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Mubadala Development Company are also looking to establishing a presence.
In May 2008, Mubadala acquired the Singapore-based oil and gas exploration and production company, Pearl Energy, which, since 2002, has assembled a portfolio of exploration, development and production assets in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
"Singapore could be a platform for Abu Dhabi for investments in China or Vietnam and the rest of the region surrounding Singapore, because Singapore has the experience," the senior official said.
"Singapore has been very active in China," he added. "So, for a newcomer like Abu Dhabi, you either start from scratch or you come into an existing relationship that you have and you use this as a channel of entry, either through partnerships with some companies or by simply learning from them."
Abu Dhabi and Singaporean companies have been involved in several prominent joint ventures, including Capitala, a property company formed by Mubadala and the Singaporean property developer Capital Land in 2008.
Capitala's maiden project is a $6bn Abu Dhabi development with residential, commercial, sport and leisure facilities.
Abu Dhabi officials have also been involved in discussions with their Singapore counterparts about developing strategic oil storage facilities in Asia.
"There have been discussions and we're still exploring," the senior official said. "When you have an increase in production you want to store in a place where you can quickly execute and sell the product to the delivery spot."
After Singapore, Sheikh Mohammed will today start an official visit to China.
mhabboush@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
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Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
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Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
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5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
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6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
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8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
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They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
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Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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