Business Secretary Grant Shapps will touch down in the UAE this week. PA
Business Secretary Grant Shapps will touch down in the UAE this week. PA
Business Secretary Grant Shapps will touch down in the UAE this week. PA
Business Secretary Grant Shapps will touch down in the UAE this week. PA

UK Business Secretary heads to the UAE to underscore support for Cop28


Laura O'Callaghan
  • English
  • Arabic

The UK’s Business Secretary Grant Shapps will visit the UAE this week to strengthen energy co-operation in the run up to Cop28.

As the nation gears up for the global summit in November, it is setting the stage for an impactful event by driving the discussion around the fight against climate change.

Mr Shapps’ first trip to the Middle East since being appointed to the role by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last October will emphasise Britain’s role in helping the UAE push ahead with its energy transition plans, a source told The National.

His tour will also take in Saudi Arabia.

A source at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in London said the minister’s visit would enhance the robust partnership between Britain and the UAE.

“The UK’s relationship with the UAE is long-standing, based on strong historic and economic links,” the insider said.

“They are a key partner in the energy sphere and the Business Secretary’s visit will highlight how the UK is playing an integral role in influencing the UAE’s energy transition plans, which comes with clear benefits to UK plc, thanks to the investments it unlocks, but also to UK bill payers as we boost our energy security with close partners in the longer term.

“The visit will also underscore our full throated support for Cop28 later this year.”

The UK's Business Secretary will emphasise Britain’s role in helping the UAE push ahead with its energy transition plans. Antonie Robertson/The National
The UK's Business Secretary will emphasise Britain’s role in helping the UAE push ahead with its energy transition plans. Antonie Robertson/The National

Downing Street said the minister's visit to the region aims to "strengthen ties particularly in areas of energy, space and critical minerals".

His overseas tour will come as Abu Dhabi prepares to host a flagship global summit next week aimed at speeding up sustainable development.

The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit on January 16 will act as a platform for the climate debate ahead of Cop28.

Topical issues such as food and water security, energy access, industrial decarbonisation, health and climate adaptation will be in sharp focus at the meeting, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

The summit will be the key focus during ADSW, which will run from January 14 to 19. It will see heads of state, policymakers and industry leaders gather for a series of discussions on the road to net zero.

Cop28 is scheduled to be held in the UAE from November 30 to December 12.

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

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Virtuzone GCC Sixes

Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City

Time Matches start at 9am

Groups

A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 1050Nm

Range: 450km

Price: Dh601,800

On sale: now

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About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

Ruwais timeline

1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established

1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants

1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed

1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.  

1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex

2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea

2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd

2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens

2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies

2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export

2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.

2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery 

2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital

2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13

Source: The National

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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
Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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  • 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
If%20you%20go
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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

The%20Killer
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Biography

Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine

Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Favourite drink: Water

Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work

Favourite music: Classical music

Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate

 

 

 

 

 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

Updated: January 11, 2023, 4:37 AM`