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News & Updates

UAE-based delivery service Barq EV set a Guinness World Record when the firm’s logistics drone completed the longest non-stop return flight for a drone at 18.065 kilometres.

The achievement is a sign of things to come, as Dubai sets ambitious targets to expand a drone-based delivery network to relieve pressure on congested roads.

The Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation initiative was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, in November.

It aims to enable drone use across several sectors, including health, security, shipping and food.

Barq Ev set another Guinness World Record for the longest flight of a drone for a delivery service at 13.584km, placing the company at the forefront of potential new developments in Dubai.

“We are at the very nascent stage of the company and we have already broken two Guinness World Records, it is an extremely proud moment for all of us,” said Ahmad Al Mazrouei, a founder of the company.

“This achievement is a testimony to our readiness to launch the drone delivery service in the country.”

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Amazon will build the Middle East's most technologically advanced fulfilment centre in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

The 175,000 square-metre site, expected to be completed by 2024, aims to create thousands of jobs, drive innovations in logistics and give local entrepreneurs and retailers access to new markets through Amazon.

“The addition of Amazon’s new fulfilment centre further boosts the emirate’s ecosystem by introducing new capabilities and an enhanced infrastructure that deliver benefits to other businesses," said Mohammed Al Shorafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and head of ADIO.

ADIO, which already has a partnership with AWS for cloud data centres, lured Amazon with incentives on land, construction and sustainable energy at the new site, for an undisclosed value. The government entity, which started operations in 2019, is responsible for attracting and facilitating investment in Abu Dhabi.

As part of the collaboration with ADIO, Amazon will provide dedicated seller training over the next decade to entrepreneurs and local business owners.

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Abu Dhabi's new dedicated cancer centre aims to cut waiting times and boost survival rates as part of an ambitious mission to become a global leader in health care innovation.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's sprawling oncology centre - which is due to open next year - will boast 24 exam rooms, 24 infusion rooms, two procedure rooms, and an area devoted to specialised women’s services set across ten floors and 19,000 square-metres.

The cutting-edge facility is key to plans to transform Cleveland Clinic into the best health centre in the region.

Doctors will have a centralised multidisciplinary centre at their disposal, providing radiotherapy services, helping them to treat patients faster and more efficiently.

Currently, patients in the capital have to travel to Al Ain's Tawam Hospital to receive crucial radiotherapy treatment.

While technology is central to the bold vision, it is driven by a desire to support cancer patients throughout their journey, helping to reduce anxiety and improve their general health along the way.

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The UAE has issued Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, which governs labour relations in the country.

Nazar Musa, CEO at PRO Partner Group discusses the upcoming changes to UAE Labour Law with Abu Dhabi SME Hub and what impact this will have on companies doing business in UAE:

"The changes to the law aim to bring the UAE workplace in line with the best international practices in terms of safeguarding employee rights and should greatly contribute to attract talent to a flexible and modern work environment. The improved working environment and employee rights that the law brings in will make the UAE more attractive from a working and living aspect for all sectors of the market."

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The UAE revealed its first fully autonomous taxi at an event in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The project, named TXAI, consists of a fleet of vehicles that will be seen on UAE roads for a trial later this month. The ride-sharing services trial will be conducted on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Announced at the Abu Dhabi Smart City Summit, TXAI is the first autonomous driving project to go ahead on a public road in the capital. In charge is a G42 subsidiary called Bayanat, a geospatial, data analytics and AI company in the UAE.

‘This project is one of the bold regional steps in employing accurate data-driven artificial intelligence techniques within the transport network’ said Falah Al Ahbabi, Department of Municipalities and Transport, yesterday.

Bayanat and Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport teamed up in March this year to lead the development of autonomous vehicles.

In phase one of the project, five vehicles will transport passengers between nine stops including hotels, restaurants, malls and offices.

Phase two will involve more vehicles and more locations in Abu Dhabi.

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The UAE has announced the establishment of a $10 billion fund to support investments in Turkey.

The deal followed talks between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It will enhance support for the Turkish economy and strengthen co-operation between the two nations.

The fund will focus on strategic investments, including energy, health and food.

Sheikh Mohamed arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for the talks, after being invited to make the official visit to Ankara by Mr Erdogan. He was received at the presidential palace by the president.

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The UAE's Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) teamed up with Abu Dhabi's Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to boost support for a national campaign to promote locally made products and services.

The National In-Country Value (ICV) programme, which was first unveiled in 2018 and is overseen by MoIAT, brings together expertise from government entities and leading national companies to localise supply chains and develop UAE industries and services that can help to attract foreign direct investment and boost jobs in the private sector.

The pact, signed by MoIAT, ADDED and ADNOC at ADIPEC, aims to stimulate entrepreneurship in priority sectors and future industries through advanced technology and 4IR solutions, which will boost operational efficiency and the competitiveness of UAE-made products in regional and global markets. Abu Dhabi allows manufacturers to use 'Made in Abu Dhabi' sign on products.

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The second edition of the Abu Dhabi Smart City Summit begins today, bringing together more than 25 local and federal government agencies, and 400 specialists, experts, officials, leaders, strategists and policy makers, as well as governmental and private organisations.

The summit will discuss the best practices for developing smart cities and addressing challenges, contributing to enriching participants’ knowledge and developing action plans that will lead to smarter and more efficient solutions. This year’s gathering will be held under the theme “Shaping the Cities of the Future” and runs for 2 days from November 23-24.

The summit will develop the frameworks and support ambitious plans for smart cities in the emirate and review the latest technological developments and innovations from the public and private sectors, while ensuring a world-class infrastructure.

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The total value of contracts awarded for commercial aircrafts and defence purposes jumped by Dh63 billion on the third day of the Dubai Airshow 2021 on Tuesday, reaching Dh266 billion in the first three days of the biggest aviation show since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Around Dh202.6 billion worth of contracts were awarded during the first two days of the event.

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing finally grabbed a mega deal on the third day of the show, signing a Dh33 billion worth deal with India’s low-cost carrier Akasa Air, for the sale of 72 7373 MAX planes.

It’s the biggest deal that the US aviation giant has bagged in the airshow so far. Boeing’s European rival Airbus stole the show on the first day of the event and grabbed most of the deals.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defence announced six contracts worth Dh4.27 billion with US and European defence contractors for the maintenance of equipment and supply of spare parts. The ministry had announced Dh11.28 billion worth of deals on the second day of the airshow, taking its tally to Dh20.78 billion over three days.

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