Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has met Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg at Expo 2020 Dubai.
During the meeting at the Luxembourg pavilion, the pair discussed several issues of common concern.
The talks also touched on the importance of developing areas of co-operation, especially in sectors that support sustainable development and contribute to the progress and prosperity of the two countries.
The Luxembourg pavilion at Expo is designed to give visitors a sense of the valleys and gorges in the European country.
Its unusual architecture is intended to make visitors step back and consider the concept of an object with no boundaries.
The outer curved steel structure runs in a loop and resembles a broad ribbon with no end.
Organisers also aimed to make it fun, by including a slide.
Running from the top of the pavilion to the bottom, it is a nod to the Schueberfouer, the annual funfair in Luxembourg, which has more than 200 rides and attracts two million visitors each summer.
Meeting with Estonian president
Sheikh Mohammed also met the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, at the Estonia pavilion at Expo 2020 in the Mobility District.
Sheikh Mohammed praised the relations between the UAE and Estonia and the co-operation between the countries in many fields, especially e-governance and the digital economy.
Estonia marked its country day on Sunday with its pop artist of the year, NOEP, and Estonian Voices, an award-winning vocal a cappella group that mixes jazz, classical and folk styles, playing at the world's fair.
The Estonia pavilion focuses is on the progress the country has made in e-services and e-governance. The exhibits seek to showcase the country as a lab where new ideas can be tried and start-ups can be launched.
Mr Karis also visited Dubai's Museum of the Future, accompanied by a delegation of 15 senior government officials led by Anneli Ott, Estonian Minister of Culture.
He was briefed on the museum’s role, which reflects the vision of Sheikh Mohammed, to create a platform for futurists and provide specialised labs for the fields of health, education, smart cities, energy, transportation and the future economy.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
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
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
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
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Rating: 4/5 stars
