UAQ shifts from property focus following global downturn



UMM AL QAIWAIN // Officials have launched an economic strategic plan that marks a shift from a focus on property development put in place before the global downturn.

The three-year programme, which comes into immediate effect, prioritises the UAQ economy, heritage, infrastructure and public sector development, said Sheikh Rashid bin Saud, the emirate's Crown Prince.

Authorities intend to develop the emirate as a trade centre, heritage and eco-tourism destination. The amount to be spent on the scheme was not revealed.

The news was welcomed by citizens who said possibilities for growth were few at present. "Now it is difficult to find a good opportunity in Umm al Qaiwain," said Hind al Ali, 27, a banker. "You can find opportunities but if you want to grow, if you want to learn, you have to leave. People go to Dubai and get experience and then they come back.

"It's a very good step once it's implemented because they've been looking to all sectors and it's not just in one field."

UAQ will feature coastal and aquatic features including Al Senayah Island to emphasise heritage and eco-tourism. The emirate will host festivals, build heritage centres, protect archaeological sites and conduct research to discover more locations.

Alyaa al Gufly, the director of the UAQ Museum, said the increased attention to cultural themes would be a boon. "I was shocked that they are focusing on heritage and tourism," she said. "We are trying to bring more people to help us with this because every day we discover new things. Just one month ago we found a new site."

The focus could change perceptions about job selection. Emiratis from UAQ would possibly be more willing to accept work in tourism, which would have been unimaginable five years ago, because of the examples of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, said Manal Jasim, a legal adviser at the royal court. "We are still a small emirate but we wish to improve and be like the other emirates," said Ms Jasim, 25. "It's a good move. It will be a good acceleration for our emirate."

The strategy will benefit from recently announced federal initiatives to develop infrastructure and boost business in the Northern Emirates. The announcements followed February's tour of the region by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Strategy development began last year with a team from Dubai and UAQ to fit with the 2011-2013 federal strategy, in response to a visit by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his call for increased integration between local and federal models.

To attract direct investment, the plan will streamline government policies to make it easier to obtain permits, register property and protect investor rights. A planned database will improve transparency and government departments will give investors more ongoing support.

The emirate will also focus on wholesale trading development, providing increased access to capital for entrepreneurs through programmes such as the Khalifa Fund, which doubled its funding to Dh2billion last month.

To meet the expected increase in trade, the UAQ Port will be expanded and roads will be upgraded in line with international road safety standards. Citizens can also expect more housing projects made possible through last month's Dh5.7bn federal stimulus programme for water and electricity infrastructure in the Northern Emirates.

An executive council will set policies at emirate level to streamline local and federal strategies and help with budgeting. The public sector will focus on efficiency and developing organisational structures and human resources.

"The Umm al Qaiwain strategy reflects our ambition to become a new success story that adds to the UAE's record of success by achieving a quantum leap in all key sectors in the emirate during the coming period," said Sheikh Rashid.

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Director: Amith Krishnan

Rating: 3.5/5

Brief scores:

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Man of the match: Juan Mata (Man Utd)

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Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

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Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE

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Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

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Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Schedule:

Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore

The Intruder

Director: Deon Taylor

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good

One star

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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

MATCH INFO

Europa League final

Marseille 0

Atletico Madrid 3
Greizmann (21', 49'), Gabi (89')

The biog

Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus

Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India

Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes

Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

SCHEDULE

6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
 
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands

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