Month: April 2023

Business

Dubai has emerged as a model for cities of the future: Sheikh Hamdan

head dubai April 6, 2023 No Comments

Crown Prince attends Dubai Future Foundation Board of Trustees meeting.

“Dubai has developed a world-class framework to imagine, design and create the future,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), said today.

Describing Dubai as one of the most future-ready cities in the world, he said the emirate has created a unique blueprint for fostering strategic partnerships, disruptive business models and innovative workplace practices. He was briefed on DFF’s achievements and milestones, as well as its current and upcoming projects at the meeting.

Dubai’s model for shaping the future, which has been inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to institutionalise foresight and create an integrated system for long-term planning and success.

We aim to maintain Dubai’s position as the leading city of the future and one of the most future-ready cities in the world across all sectors. To achieve this, we encourage everyone to contribute to shaping and designing the future and developing proactive plans to keep pace with emerging challenges and invest in its opportunities. We believe that all of us should adopt a culture of strategic foresight.

– Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

He also described DFF, launched six years ago, as one of the organisations most sought after in the world by institutions focused on exploring future trends and anticipating changes in a myriad of industries.

“Dubai Future Foundation will continue to play a pivotal role in anticipating the future of technology, issuing reports and launching national strategies to deploy technologies with the potential to change work, life and the economy. We will continue to inspire global cities by designing the future of Dubai in collaboration with our public and private sector partners,” His Highness added.

Future global gatherings

Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed on major events organised by DFF, including the inaugural Dubai Future Forum. To date, DFF has organised nearly 1,000 events, gatherings and workshops that have attracted more than 73,000 participants. The Foundation has also played an instrumental role in enhancing Dubai’s position as a leading venue for the world’s largest gatherings of futurists and a testbed for disruptive ideas.

He also received an update on the Dubai Future District Fund, a Dh1 billion investment fund launched to support entrepreneurs and startups, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The value of these investments is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2025.

The Fund will support the Dubai Future District, home to Emirates Towers, the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Dubai International Financial Centre, that will create an integrated ecosystem for shaping the future in partnership with government entities and the private sector, including multinational corporations and startups.

National strategies

Sheikh Hamdan reviewed DFF’s major strategic initiatives, including the Dubai Research and Development Programme, the Dubai Robotics and Automation Program and the Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation, which support the Foundation’s goal of unlocking opportunities in clean energy, logistics, blockchain, autonomous mobility and 3D printing.

Commenting on this, he said: “These strategies have already strengthened partnerships between Dubai’s government entities, resulting in synergies that have enhanced the quality of their skills and capabilities.”

He added: “As part of our firm belief that preparing for the future is a key element of success, we launched the Dubai Future Readiness Index during the World Government Summit 2023 to assess our government entities’ readiness for future challenges and changes.”

Sheikh Hamdan was also briefed about the nearly 40 reports that DFF has published to date in cooperation with more than 75 local and global research institutions, which have received more than 170 recommendations. His Highness stressed that “the reports issued by the Dubai Future Foundation have contributed to strengthening Dubai’s position as a global reference for experts, governments, and local and international institutions.”

DFF recently issued the Future Opportunities Report: The Global 50, which aims to identify opportunities, explore ways of overcoming global challenges, and help policymakers and business leaders stay ahead in an unpredictable world.

Forward-thinking culture

Sheikh Hamdan praised DFF’s success in attracting new startups to AREA 2071 at Emirates Towers, providing them with the support needed to scale locally and expand globally. Also, DFF’s Dubai Future Accelerators initiative has attracted more than 300 startups to date, helping them identify opportunities to develop innovative solutions in cooperation with government entities.

He also noted the importance of government partnerships under the Dubai 10X initiative, which aims to create exponential change that will place Dubai ten years ahead of leading global cities.

He stressed on the Dubai Future Academy’s important role in equipping a new generation of talent with the critical skills and tools needed to build a prosperous future. The Academy has already trained more than 25,000 people across 200 programmes, instilling a culture of innovation among government and private sector professionals.

The next chapter of growth

He stressed that in the coming phase of growth, it is crucial for DFF to continue developing future initiatives and strategists. DFF will continue its efforts to shape future global technological transformations, support high-potential startups, and attract specialised talent and expertise.

His Highness said: “We aim to maintain Dubai’s position as the leading city of the future and one of the most future-ready cities in the world across all sectors. To achieve this, we encourage everyone to contribute to shaping and designing the future and developing proactive plans to keep pace with emerging challenges and invest in its opportunities. We believe that all of us should adopt a culture of strategic foresight.”

Raising global competitiveness

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s bold vision to create a future-focused organisation has contributed significantly to the success of Dubai and the UAE in navigating today’s complex and fast-changing world, with an advanced approach based on foresight and proactivity and an inclusive strategy for the future centred on raising human wellbeing.”

“Under the supervision of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai Future Foundation will continue to respond strategically to the evolving global landscape, empower government entities and enhance their future readiness, and ensure that top talent, innovators, and entrepreneurs have the tools to thrive and prosper. The Foundation will continue to provide global platforms to share knowledge, expertise, visions and future insights, and enable the deployment of disruptive fourth industrial revolution technologies to better serve humanity,” Al Gergawi added.

The Board of Trustees meeting was attended by Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of DFF; Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Her Excellency Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Government Development and the Future; His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications and Deputy Managing Director of DFF; His Excellency Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of DFF and other dignitaries.

Business

Big Bad Wolf sale returns to Dubai on April 7 with up to 75% off; books starting from AED2

head dubai April 6, 2023 No Comments

The world’s biggest book sale will offer discounts of up to 75 per cent on over 1 million books with some titles starting from as low as Dh2.

The world’s biggest book sale, the Big Bad Wolf (BBW), is back for its fifth edition this year. The sale which will run from April 7 to 16 will offer discounts of up to 75 per cent on over 1 million books with some titles starting from as low as Dh2. The sale will be held at Dubai Studio City from 9am to 2am and will be free to enter.

“The books will be the superstar of the event,”

said Andrew Yap, co-founder of BBW.

“We have about 60—70 per cent new book titles as compared to last time and we have a lot more discounts.”

This year, BBW will be held under the theme ‘Bigger and Gooder’. Andrew said that it was a play on words to remind people that reading was of utmost importance.

“A lot of customers called us out saying we made a mistake,”

he said.

“So we tell them that we are all a work in progress. That is why we should read. We need to read to know that such a word does not exist. It is a very powerful statement.”

Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Studio City and Dubai Production City – TECOM Group, said that the event has become a staple of the group’s creative calendar,

“Literature is such a powerful fuel for creativity, imagination, and curiosity. Big Bad Wolf promotes a love for reading that is essential to nurture in younger generations, especially in an increasingly digital world,”

he said.

New additions

This year, the sale will have several innovations.

“We came out with an ‘Unbelievable’ section where customers will find books for as low as Dh2,”

he said. The section will offer unbeatable prices on select books.

This year, visitors will also be able to buy gift vouchers for their near and dear ones. Additionally, according to Andrew,

“the look and feel of the hall will be different”

and instead of being laid flat in stacks, there will be elevated shelves which will make for a better customer experience.

The BBW now also has an office and warehouse in the UAE, which has contributed to making the books cheaper.

“Definitely, it will bring our overheads lower,”

said Andrew.

“We will have more discounts and we are able to replenish books better.”

In addition to this, Andrew revealed that BBW will be more active all across the country.

“We will have more events around the UAE,”

he said.

“When we say our mission is to make books affordable and accessible, it cannot be just Dubai. If you live in a small city outside of Dubai, you don’t have the same opportunities. So, we want to bring our books there. We will be venturing out into other cities as well.”

Customer experience

A key factor of the event will be the volunteers who will man the book sale.

“We work with an agency who has recruited people from across several age categories to help out at the sale,” said a BBW spokesperson. “We train them well so that they know enough about the books we are selling. Several of them are returning volunteers because they enjoyed working with us so much.”

Visitors can browse through a wide variety of bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction, literature, cookbooks, children’s books, graphic novels, and more. In addition, the fair will showcase board games, colouring books, and collectibles, all under one roof. The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale was conceptualised with the vision to promote literacy and reading among communities worldwide.

BBW is supported by strategic partner Dubai Culture.

“We realise the importance of organising and hosting book fairs,”

said Eiman Al Hammadi, Acting Manager of the Libraries Affairs Section at Dubai Culture.

“This year we are focusing on how to how we can the reach the community on a very big scale. We are reaching out to kids in university and schools as well as their parents. It is not easy but year by year we are doing more work to reach different sections through the selection of books.”

Uncategorized

Exclusive: Driverless taxis in Dubai by end of 2023; how much it will cost, where you will find the cabs revealed

head dubai April 6, 2023 No Comments

The self-driving vehicles can accommodate up to three passengers.

Ten self-driving taxis will be deployed for public use in Jumeirah area by the end of this year, with fares comparable to limo taxis, a senior official at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has exclusively confirmed to Khaleej Times.

Khaled Al Awadhi, director of Transportation Systems, Public Transport Agency at RTA, said the RTA will add more autonomous taxis in the same area next year until the gradual deployment of 4,000 driverless cabs across Dubai by 2030.“The fare is not yet finalised, but it will be comparable to what is currently charged by limo taxis, which are usually 30 per cent higher than regular taxis in Dubai. The self-driving taxi can sit up to three passengers at the back, with no passenger allowed in the front,” noted Al Awadhi in a phone interview on Wednesday night, following the announcement by the RTA that US-based self-driving technology company Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), has started digital mapping of the Jumeirah 1 area.

RTA and Cruise have earlier joined forces to run autonomous taxi services in the city, making Dubai the first non-US city to commercialise Cruise self-driving cars that are all-electric and emission-free. Dubai will exclusively have only Cruise taxis until 2030.

Bolt taxis

The car model of the 10 self-driving taxis is Chevrolet Bolt, the same self-driving sedans deployed by Cruise to conduct data collection and testing of technology for traffic signals, signages, and drivers’ behaviour in the Jumeirah 1 area. It is equipped with a suite of sensors, including LiDAR (laser sensor that uses near-infrared light to detect the shapes of objects), cameras, and radars to determine the distance of objects.

Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, earlier said in a statement: “Data collection and testing is a crucial phase in Dubai’s quest for excellence in smart mobility and advanced technology. The work being done will ensure Cruise’s advanced generalisable AI (artificial intelligence) and autonomous driving systems safely adapt to Dubai traffic conditions.

He added: “The launch of autonomous vehicles will bring a positive impact on Dubai’s transportation landscape and wellbeing… The rollout of autonomous vehicles will alleviate traffic congestion, lower the number of traffic accidents, and cut harmful emissions.”

For tourists and residents

Meanwhile, Al Awadhi said the choice of the Jumeirah area in the initial rollout phase is because of its strategic location and historic tourist attractions.

Initially, the 10 self-driving Cruise taxis will only operate within the confines of the Jumeirah area, meaning pick up and drop off are limited in the same area. “The route is between Etihad Museum and Dubai Water Canal,” Al Awadhi shared.

But the route is not only limited to one road, as the 8km stretch between Etihad Museum and Dubai Water Canal starts from Sheikh Zayed Road to the beach side in Jumeirah, meaning commuters will enjoy riding a driverless taxi when they go to La Mer Beach, Mercato Mall, Coca Cola Arena, City Walk, Galleria Mall, Box Park or any of the numerous restaurants and cafes along Jumeirah and Al Wasl roads.

They can also take the driverless taxis when they move around the consular offices of South Korea, Kenya or Morocco; or when they go to Jumeirah Archaeological site, Four Season Resort Hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Dubai Ladies Club, Al Wasl Park, Iranian Hospital or Canadian University Dubai; or when they visit friends and families living in the residential flats and villas in Jumeirah.

Al Awadhi added that Bolt taxis will follow the same speed limits in the Jumeirah area, which is 70kph both along Al Wasl and Jumeirah roads.

More to come

Aside from the three-passenger Chevrolet Bolt EV (electric vehicle), Al Awadhi said Cruise will also roll-out in Dubai its shuttle-like Cruise Origin that can accommodate up to six passengers.

Origin is the product of a multi-year collaboration with parent company GM and investor Honda that is designed for a ridesharing service. According to Cruise, “the shuttle-like vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals, and is designed to travel at highway speeds. The interior is roomy, with seats (that can sit up to three passengers on each side) facing each other.”

“Seats have personal USB ports and digital displays are located above to give travellers information about their rides.”

Business

Amanat Holdings launches new healthcare platform

April 5, 2023 No Comments

Amanat also plans to consider further value creation options for Amanat Healthcare, including a potential initial public offering on a regional exchange in the near term
The post Amanat Holdings launches new healthcare platform appeared first on Gulf Business.
The post Amanat Holdings launches new healthcare platform appeared first on Gulf Business.

Business

Stelios Violaris

head dubai April 5, 2023 No Comments

Stelios Violaris is a young Entrepreneur and comes from an affluent family in Cyprus. He is married and he has 2 young children. He is one of the richest young Entrepreneurs at the moment in Cyprus and he always helps people without expecting anything…Since 2013 he is helping poor families by supplying them with food and money. That’s the reason why at the moment he is one of the most respectful people in Cyprus. Despite living amidst all the luxury, he lives with the soul and mind of helping the human. After all, he has been brought up by his family, not with love or money but also with values that make him active in this tough time.
His Instagram page defines him as an entrepreneur while his photos showcase his love for his family and traveling. In 2003 he started his studies as a Psychologist at the University Of Sofia, Bulgaria.


In 2010 he finished his master’s degree in the subject of clinical psychology and he returned to Cyprus where he became the CVO of his family business.
Ni Hao Trading (import and export company) was started in 1995 by his father Nicos Violaris and together with his sons Stelios Violaris, Jordan Violaris, and Pantelis Violaris now they became the No1 import and export Company not only Cyprus but in the whole of Europe. At the moment Stelios Violaris is spreading his own brand name of Japanese products around the whole world.
Stelios is a peaceful person with a big vision. His vision is to have one of the biggest distributor companies in the world just to make sure that people all over the world have the best quality in their nutrition every single day!
P.S. It follows a link that shows the partnership as the biggest Asian company in Cyprus recognized by the biggest bank of Cyprus.