Saudi Arabia expects to begin making drones next year, the military said, part of a plan to domesticate half of the kingdom’s military spending over the next decade.
The authorities granted Intra Defence Technologies a license to produce the Asef drone starting in the first quarter of 2021 at a cost of $200 million (Dh734.50mn), the General Authority for Military Industries said in a statement this week.
Intra is one of 25 local companies operating in the kingdom in the field of arms manufacturing, the statement read.
The Asef drone was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow in November last year, as Intra signed a deal with South Africa’s Hensoldt Optronics to co-produce systems for airborne surveillance and targeting.
Intra executive Anthony Gudgeon said at the airshow that the Asef, a Vertical Takeoff Aircraft, was “a world’s first in terms of its performance and in terms of a 100 per cent Saudi-developed and designed aircraft.”
Saudi Arabia's army and navy are Intra’s primary customers but there has been also interest from abroad to buy the Asef drone, Mr Gudgeon said.
The Saudi government has one of the world’s largest military budgets, accounting for more than eight per cent of GDP.
Riyadh has sought a variety of suppliers and partnerships in the last few years to boost manufacturing capacity and diversify away from western, especially US, suppliers on whom it depends for most of its military hardware.
During a visit by to China by King Salman in March 2017 Beijing agreed to build drones in Saudi Arabia as part of $60bn worth of business deals signed at the time. No date was announced by which the Chinese drones would be produced.
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
