Mubadala Development, a strategic investment company owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, is teaming up with one of Spain's largest information technology firms to improve traffic and transport systems in the emirate.
Mubadala yesterday said it signed an agreement with Indra, based in Madrid, to explore traffic management and transport joint ventures. The pact builds on a relationship that started in May last year, when the two companies agreed to collaborate on aerospace and defence technology ventures during a state visit to India by King Juan Carlos of Spain.
"We've been working with Indra for some time now, collaborating on important projects across a wide range of technology areas," said Jassem al Zaabi, the executive director of information and communications at Mubadala. "The ICT [information and communications technologies] sector is vital to our plans for economic diversification, and partnering with businesses that are global leaders in their field is a central part of our growth strategy. We look forward to exploring new projects and opportunities together."
The two companies had already undertaken "several projects" in aerospace, automated maintenance systems and defence electronics, Mubadala said.
Bosco Ojeda, an analyst at UBS in London, said that Indra's presence in the Middle East was limited but that the company was planning for revenue growth in countries outside Europe. Indra has offices in 30 countries, mostly in Europe, South America and Asia.
"Clearly, Indra is quite an international group and they are growing their international presence quite strongly," he said. "Roughly 45 per cent of revenues are outside of their core market of Spain, and obviously they are looking to expand further, given the problems in Spain."
Indra offers a variety of traffic management technologies covering rail, air, toll roads and tunnels. It is a member of a Spanish consortium expected to win a €6 billion (Dh28.91bn) contract to build and operate a 450km railway between Mecca and Medina.
The company's products range "from the most basic to the most complex control systems" for traffic, Mr Ojeda said.
"This agreement is exciting for us because it marks another step in our continued growth in Abu Dhabi and the wider Middle East," said Alfonso Fernandez Rangel, Indra's business development director in the Middle East. "We're pleased to be partnering with an organisation that shares our vision for innovation and for delivering world-class services and products. I'm sure this will lead to some major technology projects very soon."
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MEFCC information
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
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3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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MATCH INFO
Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)
Charles 57, Amla 47
Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)
Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9
Bangla Tiger win by five wickets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
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MO
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
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
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history
Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)
Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.
Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)
A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.
Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)
Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.
Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)
Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.
SPECS
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Maratha Arabians 107-8 (10 ovs)
Lyth 21, Lynn 20, McClenaghan 20 no
Qalandars 60-4 (10 ovs)
Malan 32 no, McClenaghan 2-9
Maratha Arabians win by 47 runs
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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