UAE National Committee Discusses US Report On Human Trafficking

The UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking held its 14th meeting that was chaired by His Excellency Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee.

The meeting hosted at the MSNCA premises in Dubai, discussed critical subjects related to combating human trafficking, essentially the report issued by the U.S Department of State concerning human trafficking. The committee expressed its concern regarding some of the issues highlighted in the report as it ignored several tangible achievements accomplished by the UAE in combating human trafficking.

Mr Gargash said that the U.S. report lacks accuracy and objectivity as it failed to evaluate the efforts exerted by the UAE in combating human trafficking last year. He said the report was biased and does not rely on accurate studies or on facts on-ground as it does not reflect reality of the progress achieved.

The Committee reviewed recommendations by the human trafficking conference organized by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on protecting human trafficking victims and praised the efforts of the ministry. The conference issued several recommendations that are being studied to set a follow up mechanism. Mr Gargash appreciated the efforts exerted by the MoI in limiting and fighting human trafficking by pursuing criminals through the ministry’s institutions. He said that these efforts are in line with national strategy to combat human trafficking and aimed at strengthening coordination with various concerned parties in the UAE.

The Committee discussed the participation of representatives in special training sessions for combating human trafficking in cooperation with the International Institute of Belarus that focuses on techniques and ways of combating the crime.

The meeting also discussed the media campaign being rolled out to spread awareness on human trafficking crimes. The Committee decided to launch the campaign in the fall of 2009 at all major airports and embassies in the UAE.

The Committee discussed collecting and organising data related to human trafficking, as well as the studies that can help combat this dangerous crime. The committee listened to a detailed presentation on the initiative by Belarus in the UN to combat human trafficking, and reviewed reports presented by concerned parties in the UAE.

Community Development Authority, UNDP Sign MoU To Implement Joint Programme To Support Social Initiatives

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a joint programme to conduct a series of workshops aimed at strengthening social development.

Her Excellency Dr Maryam Matar, Director General of the CDA, and His Excellency Dr. Khaled Alloush, UNDP Resident Representative to the UAE, signed the agreement at a special ceremony held, recently, at CDA’s headquarters.

The workshops will be on human rights; women’s rights and children’s rights, and sustainable development. Other UN organizations will be invited to participate as per the topic of the workshop, if necessary. Representatives from the government, non-governmental institutions and private sector will be invited.

“The agreement signed with UNDP comes in line with CDA’s mandate to enhance the social development in Dubai. CDA works on setting up the necessary policies and standards pertaining to social services providers,” said Dr Maryam Matar.

“Led by the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, CDA seeks to cooperate with local, regional and international corporations in various fields as this will reflect positively on the lives of UAE nationals,” added Dr Matar.

Dr. Khaled Alloush said: “The MoU aims to enhance relations with the Community Development Authority in many fields, especially human rights issues. We recently organized a joint two-day workshop on children’s rights and we hope to focus on more essential issues related to the society.”
 

Board Of Trustees Directs Dubai School Of Government To Expand Scope Of Programmes

The Dubai School of Government, (DSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, today announced it will build on the existing programmes and expand its scope of work to benefit the wider Arab world.

The announcement follows the first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai School of Government that was established in 2006 through a decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The board members attended the meeting that was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs. The other board members who attended the meeting included Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and three ministers from the Arab world.

The next board meeting is scheduled to be held in October this year. The board members reviewed the progress made by DSG within a span of four years to emerge as a pioneering teaching and research institution in the Arab world. The institution was also commended for its role in influencing decision-makers in the region and paving the way for creating the next generation of Arab leaders.

His Excellency, Nabil Alyousuf, Vice Chair of DSG board of trustees, said: “With a clear focus on improving the quality of manpower and furthering the cause of governance, DSG has a committed agenda that has enormously benefited countries in the region. As recommended by the Board, we will expand the ambit of our existing initiatives and actively offer more comprehensive training programmes to the rest of the Arab world.

“We are grateful for the support of our board members, other Arab governments and our partner institutions in realising our objectives. We will continue to play a critical role in formulating government policies in the region and we are proud of the great recognition our innovative concepts and intellectual debates have garnered so far.”
The Dubai School of Government has cemented valuable partnerships with leading institutions across the world including the Harvard Kennedy School and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. It also implements several executive education programmes in partnership with leading institutions across the world and has tie-ups with key government departments to conduct various courses.

DSG also has tie-ups with global organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank to offer practical hands-on research experience to students. With its faculty of experts, the school has successfully emerged as a regional power-house in guiding policy-makers.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is committed to the creation of knowledge, dissemination of global best practices, and the training of policy makers in the Arab world. The school is focused on capacity building and conducts various programmes that seek to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.
For more details, visit www.dsg.ae or call 04 329 3290.

Dubai International Financial Centre announces the appointment of Abdulla Al Awar as Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced the appointment of Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar as Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, one of the main bodies of DIFC. Abdulla was previously Managing Director of DIFC Authority.Abdulla Al Awar succeeds outgoing CEO Nasser Alshaali who is leaving to pursue a career in the private sector, after a three year tenure at DIFC.Welcoming the appointment, His Excellency Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of DIFC, said: "Abdulla has been an integral part of DIFC since its inception in 2004, and a key player in its growth and development as an internationally recognized centre. This new role recognizes Abdulla’s capabilities and commitment to DIFC.""As we enter a new phase of an even more integrated global economy, I am confident that Abdulla’s experience and knowledge will help him achieve new milestones, especially in service excellence, which will help steer DIFC closer towards achieving its vision of shaping tomorrow’s financial map as a global gateway for capital and investment", added Dr. Bin Sulaiman.Mr. Al Awar said: "I am honored to have been selected for this position at this critical juncture of our progress, and grateful for the vision and support shown by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of DIFC to future business leaders. I am excited about the challenges and opportunities of this role and look forward to supporting DIFC’s mission of creating sustainable growth in the region through a vibrant financial services cluster."David Eldon, Chairman of the Board, DIFC Authority stated, "I would like to congratulate and welcome Abdulla to his new position. We are confident in his capable leadership and ability to build and further improve DIFC’s position among the leading financial centres of the world." Wishing outgoing CEO Nasser Alshaali a successful future in the private sector, Dr. Omar commented, "We thank Nasser for playing a pivotal role in building DIFC into a globally recognized player. Today, DIFC has become the largest International Financial Services Industry cluster in the region between Singapore and Europe with more than 780 firms.Commenting on his departure Nasser Alshaali said: "During the past four years at DIFC, I have witnessed the region’s prominence in the global economy rise in a way unprecedented in modern history. With Dubai and the UAE’s financial industry in the lead, and supported by DIFC’s infrastructure, Abdulla will take this city within a city to new heights".In his recent role as Managing Director of DIFC Authority, Abdulla was responsible for overseeing the management of the body of DIFC, charged with developing overall strategy for the centre. His responsibilities included attracting financial institutions to operate in DIFC as well as the creation of an ideal platform for non-financial & professional service providers that support the constant development of the financial sector.

National Committee To Combat Human Trafficking Goes Online

The UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) officially launched its website: www.nccht.gov.ae. The initiative is aimed at enhancing the committee’s communication activities to reach all segments of the UAE community and enhance awareness about human trafficking amongst individuals.

His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the committee, said the online initiative highlights the UAE’s commitment to leverage all necessary tools to combat transnational human trafficking crimes and to limit its impact on the society.

He said that going online will help establish an interactive role with the members of the community and better explain to the public about human trafficking crimes and ways of avoiding them. The website will serve as a new communication channel enabling individuals to send their queries and notify officials about any suspect activity related to human trafficking cases.

The new website offers a number of services and interactive features, explaining to the public the nature of the committee’s mandate and efforts exerted to fight human trafficking as well as highlighting the committee’s core areas of work.

Laws and legislations, and local and international agreements related to the crime can be viewed on the website, including the Federal law 51/2006 as well as the definitions of the crime.

The website hosts a special section dedicated to annual reports issued by the committee regarding various initiatives and steps taken to fight human trafficking, besides policies and legislations enforced by the UAE on this matter. Another section, which will be updated daily, has been dedicated to news and events relating to the committee.

The website also features another important interactive feature – ‘Contact Us’ – that allows contact with officials via e-mail, thus enabling users to send complaints and notify the committee about cases related to human trafficking. The site also has a suggestions box which is aimed to have the public’s opinion on ways to develop the committee’s tasks and on different issues related to combating human trafficking crimes.

Visit the website at http://www.nccht.gov.ae

Dubai Was Top City In The World In 2008 For Foreign Direct Investment

In a special report published by the Financial Times on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Dubai has for the first time been classified as the top destination city in the world surpassing the likes of London and Shanghai. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to lead the way in the Middle East and Africa accounting for 50% of total projects in the region. Dubai is one of the seven emirates of the UAE.

In its position as the top destination city for FDI for 2008, Dubai attracted a total of 342 projects, had $21bn of capital investment and created over 58,000 new jobs. The UAE was once again the leading destination for FDI in the region with 480 projects, capital expenditure of $35bn and the creation of over 87,000 new jobs in 2008. For the Middle East as a whole, sources show that the total number of FDI projects amounted to 969, with capital expenditure of $154bn, creating over 237,000 jobs.

Commenting on the report, His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre and Vice Chairman of the Central Bank of the UAE, said: “This report is a testament to the strategy of both the UAE and Dubai under the directives of HH Sheikh khlaifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; a strategy of openness and diversification. The number of projects initiated, the capital investment and jobs created in the UAE are proof of the economic strength of the country. It is a remarkable achievement by Dubai to become the leading city in the world for foreign direct investment and we are committed to continuing to demonstrate the benefit of investing in Dubai and the UAE.
 

Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat Signs Agreement With Six Senses Spas

The Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat in Oman has officially signed a partnership agreement with the world-class spa management company, Six Senses Spas, to operate the property’s brand new spa facility – Six Senses Spa at Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat.Her Excellency Dr. Rajiha Abdul Amir Ali, Oman’s Minister of Tourism, said, “The Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat is one of Oman’s key tourist attractions and even if visitors are not staying there, they always want to visit this extraordinary hotel. Building a spa will further add appeal to the property and position Oman as a leading leisure tourism destination in the region. Over the past year tourism in Oman increased and we look forward to strong tourism drive in 2009 and beyond.”Set on a hill top overlooking the property’s palatial grounds, sea and Oman’s Hajjar Mountains, the spa will offer guests and visitors exceptional services from facials to massages and body treatments unique to Six Senses Spas as well as yoga and meditation facilities.“A world-class spa offering was the missing element for the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat and we are pleased to be partnering with Six Senses Spas to bring a one-of-a-kind spa destination to our guests, said Tony Zamora, Director of Operation InterContinental Hotels Group Oman and General Manager. “When the plans for the renovation phase were first drafted, we ensured that a premium destination spa forms part and parcel to guarantee the complete resort experience. The property’s idyllic setting is simply perfect.”The spa occupies a spacious area of more than 2300 square metres split over two levels and was designed by Six Senses Resorts & Spas in conjunction with P49 Design interior designers and Bangkok-based Febraur architects. The inspiration for the architectural and interior design came from traditional Omani and Islamic architecture to complement the exterior and interior design of the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat, as well as immerse guests in an enriching and local setting.“We are thrilled to be partnering with such an iconic property – Six Senses Spa at Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat will undoubtedly be one of our signature facilities worldwide, said Bernhard Bohnenberger, Managing Director Six Senses Resorts and Spas. “We will offer our signature Six Senses treatments as well as treatments that have been carefully developed by our training and menu development department using traditional Omani rituals. Guests will leave the spa feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated – this is our promise.”The spa will also feature the Six Senses ‘SLOW LIFE’ menu which concentrates on treatments using local ingredients that are produced within a 30 kilometre diameter only – expanding the spa’s exclusive services to the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat.Each spa treatment can be individualised to cater to the guest’s needs for a rewarding impact. The treatments will be administered by skilled, experienced therapists who embrace Six Senses Spas’ ‘Balancing Senses’ philosophy, which is founded on that belief that the spa experience may only be achieved once all five senses have been nurtured.The Six Senses Spa at Al Bustan Palace Intercontinental Muscat is expected to be officially open by mid 2011 and will include: 16 treatment rooms, private facilities for ladies and gentlemen, sauna and steam rooms, as well as membership-based ladies only club with private access to the beach.
 

HE Dr. Anwar Gargash Launches Dubai School of Government Alumni Association

His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the DSG Board of Trustees, today inaugurated the Dubai School of Government Alumni Association.

High-ranking government officials, various heads of private and public sector organizations and business leaders from throughout the region attended the event, which was held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

The Dubai School of Government (DSG) also announced the appointment of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, as the first Honorary President of the DSG Alumni Association. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan is an alumnus of a specialized training program from the School, which is the first in the region to offer curricula in public policy and administration through partnerships with globally renowned institutions.

Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government, said: “The launch of the DSG Alumni Association is a significant milestone for the School. It celebrates the accomplishments of our alumni and ensures that every past student of the institution remains connected. The new body is also an effective platform to keep these professionals informed of the latest developments in public policy, while providing them with continued access to DSG’s community of policy experts.

“It is an honor for the association to be chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan, who is one of our distinguished graduates. We are proud of our academic growth, and look forward to strengthening our bonds with former students who have benefited from our academic and executive education programs. We believe the establishment of the DSG Alumni Association will help to promote ongoing interaction among our past students who now hold high-ranking positions as top professionals in the region.”

During the inauguration ceremony, the School also honored the contributions of HE Mr. Nabil Alyousuf. As Executive President, Mr. Alyousuf has guided the development of the School since its inception in 2005. Mr. Alyousuf is also Vice Chair of the Dubai School of Government’s Board of Trustees.

Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the Dubai School of Government is actively engaged in the creation of knowledge, dissemination of global best practices, and training of policy makers in the Arab world. The School is focused on capacity building and conducts various programs that seek to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.

For more details, visit www.dsg.ae or call 04-3293290.

6th Middle East CEO Of The Year Awards 2009

6th Middle East CEO of the Year Awards 2009 – Salah Tahlak wins the ‘Young CEO of the Year Award’

At the 6th Middle East CEO of the Year Awards held recently at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Salah Tahlak, Director of Corporate Communications, Dubai Duty Free was presented with the ‘Young CEO of the Year’ award by His Excellency Dr. Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Education.

Speaking at the Award Ceremony Mr. Ali Al Kamali, Chairman, Middle East Excellence Awards Institute and Managing Director Datamatix Group said: “Recognizing leadership is important because not only does it give credit where it is due, the recognition also motivates many others to strive for excellence.

The Middle East Awards was founded with the objective of meriting outstanding CEOs from different fields in the region and also inspiring others to make their own mark in regional leadership”.

Salah Tahlak accepting the award at the ceremony paid tribute to the President of Department of Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and to Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free for their guidance and support over the years.

“I am delighted to accept this award,” said Tahlak. “At Dubai Duty Free I have been fortunate to work for an organization that encourages growth and personal development. I extend my thanks also to Ali Kamali and his team at Datamatix for organizing these important awards”.

Dr. Hanif Hassan commended the Institute for establishing an awards program that advocates leadership excellence and said: “At a time when the region and the world are facing many challenges, it is only proper that we recognize exemplary leadership that motivates and inspires others to work towards achieving their goals. I extend my congratulations and admiration to this year’s winners for their achievements and hope that they will serve as role models to others.”

The Middle East CEO Awards recognize CEOs and C-level managers who demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and commitment to advancing their organizations’ strategic goals. This world-class awards program is the first of its kind in the region, with nominees selected through a professional process and judged according to internationally accepted standards.