Author: head dubai

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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

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.

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From losing 50kg to discovering new sport: How Dubai Fitness Challenge changed expats’ lives

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

Now in its sixth edition, the DFC has played a tremendous role in influencing several people’s fitness journeys

When the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) was launched, the mission is to transform the emirate into the world’s most active, dynamic city. Every year, it gets closer to its ultimate goal, but something more incredible is happening along the way: People have started turning their lives around.

With the fitness frenzy ongoing in its sixth edition, Khaleej Times caught up with a number of people who have found inspiration and decided to make changes to their lifestyles — all thanks to DFC.One such person was Dr Krishnadas Nanath, associate professor and head of data science programme at Middlesex University Dubai. “My weight was touching almost triple digits,” he recalled.“I decided I needed to do something about it and that is when last year’s fitness challenge rolled around. I had read that it takes 21 days to make a habit so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try out that hypothesis.”

For 30 days, Krishnadas did 30 minutes of exercise and once the month was over, he just kept going, taking up running and cycling regularly.

“The one thing about Dubai is that if you want to be fit, there are so many events throughout the year,” he said. “I started to participate in many runs and races. This gave me constant goals to keep working towards.”

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The Dubai resident has now dropped over 26kg and is the fittest he has ever been. “People ask me how I find time for fitness,” he said.

“It is all about priorities. If I watch a movie, no one is going to ask me how I find time for it. It takes less time than that to complete your exercise. I have now started taking my 3-year-old son to events. I want fitness to be an integral part of his life as he grows up.”

Fat turned fit

For Husam Mohamed, the challenge was a turning point. Obese, diabetic and battling high blood pressure, the Sudanese national decided to use the DFC as a wake-up call.

“I was inspired by how our [Dubai} Crown Prince [Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum] was calling everyone to get fit and healthy,” he said. “I was always a big fan of his. So I decided to take up the challenge.”

In a remarkable feat, the Dubai resident lost over 50kg. “I could barely walk a few steps without stopping to catch my breath,” he said.

“Today, I have run a full marathon, participated in the Spartan World Championship and I am now a crossfit and nutrition coach. The DFC was the biggest trigger for my life’s fitness journey.”

Similarly, at one point in his life, Sandeep Sathyan weighed all of 118kg and shied away from even posting his photos on social media fearing ridicule.

However, when the Dubai Municipality began the ‘Your Weight in Gold’ campaign, he was motivated to lose weight.

Soon after that, when the Dubai Fitness Challenge began, he used it as an opportunity to get his fitness levels up. “I was still learning about exercise and diet at the time,” he said. “That one month was a great start for me to get committed and regular in my exercise.”

Today, the Dubai resident weighs 70kg and couldn’t be happier. “My health and self-confidence have transformed drastically,” he said.

“I think DFC has been a game-changer in my life. From 2017 onwards, friends and I participate in various activities around town during the month. Instead of doing our usual gym and games, we check out new activities. I love how suddenly fitness becomes everyone’s focus. Most of us in my friends’ group manage to keep the momentum of that month throughout the year.”

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Picking up a new sport

In 2017, Jeena Jacob had just given birth to her first child and was feeling overweight and unhappy. When the fitness challenge began, she took it up as a sign and decided to get fit.

“There was all this messaging about getting fit and staying healthy, so I got motivated by it,” she said. “I had always enjoyed sports and was looking for something like football or basketball.”

After searching around for a while, she found a club, but they only offered free rugby classes. “I had never even seen a rugby match ever in my life,” she said. However, that proved to be a much-needed turning point in her life. Rugby became her solace as she navigated through difficult life situations.

Uncategorized

Meditate With Urmila: Connecting to the body’s intelligence

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

The body holds cues to the emotional story inside.

The last column articulated that the mind and body aren’t separate. Take note of the fact how the body responds to certain emotions, like when you are excited or nervous or anxious.

Thoughts generate emotions. The thoughts and emotions are energy from the mental plane and are invisible, however, they are real and this can be established from the way the body responds. The body’s expression is more tangible and visible than those of thoughts and beliefs, as the physical body operates on the material/ matter plane. Thoughts, beliefs, ideas, opinions, feelings are all subtle-level invisible, real energies.

Emotional Story Held in the Body

The invisible, subtle drives the more visible, perceivable. From that perspective, the body holds the emotional/energetic story of the self, while co-existing with the body and influencing it. Any mis-alignment in the emotional aspect will have a corresponding impact on the physical body. The body’s mis-aligned postures, pains, aches, illnesses, chronic discomfort are grosser expressions of unhelpful emotions-thoughts present inside.

Some of the stories we are aware of, at the conscious level, however, most we are not as they exist in the subconscious mind, but the body expresses them. Take a cue from your body’s telling and check what emotions-feelings are being harboured in the psyche and mind.

For example, the thought and the emotion, (operating at the conscious or the subconscious level): “I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders”, will generate sensation in the shoulder region, may be as pain, or body posture of droopy-shoulders, or expanded/rigid shoulders (to be able to carry the weight).

Or a thought similar to it such as , “I have to fulfill expectation/s of my parent or sibling or…”; thereby carrying that thought- energy on the shoulders. The individual may feel “weighed down” by this “burden” (drooped shoulders) or energetically will try to broaden the shoulders to be able to carry the weight of expectations.

Similarly, thoughts evoking feelings of anxiety, helplessness, worry will give sensations in the spleen or stomach region. The feelings of fear, unsupported-ness, blame will be felt in the kidneys or bladder. Similarly, harboured feelings of resentment or grudge will show up in kidneys mostly. Grief, sorrow, sadness, rejection will impact the lungs or colon.

Know that emotions can lodge anywhere in the body, especially those areas which are vulnerable (say, by injury, or nutritional deficiency or by genetic disposition).

The body doesn’t lie. It merely expresses the internalised feelings. When one continues to feel the same unhelpful emotion over and over again, regurgitate the same thought, the same unhelpful belief, the organ where the emotion is “lodged” might feel “overloaded”, and/ or work “double”, causing wear and tear to itself. It may feel obligated to produce more of that vibration, reinforcing the same cycle-pattern of thoughts.

The unhelpful emotions that get “lodged” are trapped energies within the body-system. Most emotions get trapped in early childhood and before that, at the conception stage or are carried forward from the past lives or from ancestors.

For example, the trapped emotion of betrayal, or forlorn, can be trapped in a person’s heart region. This emotion may be traced back to childhood, when an individual didn’t have a parent around while growing up, is one example. (“My parent was never available to us” or “my grandmother raised me, not my mother”).

A trapped emotion can be inherited, say of anger issues or easy disposition towards feeling fatigued. Some comments might seem casually made but can have forceful impact, as ‘you may fail this class’, may cause humiliation, or feelings of unworthiness to trap in the body causing performance anxiety.

In awareness one can notice the body signs and work backwards to the trapped emotions and let go of them.

Fashion Model

Dubai-based jewellery designer on designing gemstones with a twist

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

Meet the popstar of high jewellery, Pavit Gujral.

A gemologist by education, and a jewellery designer by profession, Pavit Gujral is a Dubai-based jewellery designer whose creations are known to intertwine with the elements of nature. Be it starfishes and parrots dangling from one’s ears, or daisies and fishes nestled between collarbones, Pavit’s designs reflect unique styles, with a story behind them all. Recently showcasing her designs at the Dubai Design District, Pavit won the prestigious Inhorgenta Award in Munich, Germany, for her crab earrings from her Marine collection. The designer, who graduated from the Gemological Institute of America, has previously won the Saul Bell Design Awards in the US, and the IJ Jeweller’s Choice Design Awards in India.

Voyage, Marine, Sylvan, Memoir and Le Fleur, the designer’s collections are heavily influenced by a harmonious concoction of art, nature, moments and architecture, enriched deeply with the history of the gem. Sapphires, rubies, diamonds and topazes are no stranger to her as she takes pride in infusing colour and grandeur into her pieces, while paying ode to the stone. Ahead of her win, the designer opens up on her love for gems, and the journey to creating a niche.

The muses behind Pavit’s creations are not only limited to elements of nature, but she also takes inspiration from architecture. “Especially when I travel, I keep an eye out for different sorts of architecture because I feel the design industry is interconnected. Be it fashion design, jewellery design, or interiors or whatever architecture, that is one of my main inspirations. I even did projects on Zaha Hadid’s building.”

Gemstones are the main element in her designs. Pavit incorporates the colour and class that these precious stones bring into a piece. “As a gemologist, gemstones are something that I really want to promote, especially the lesser-known gemstones which are rarer and more valuable than the known ones.”

With changing trends and styles, bold jewellery has taken a backseat lately with more minimalism and simplistic designs coming to the front. But Pavit believes there is a market for her niche. “I think there was always a niche market for artistic jewellery, which is something that I try to do. I know I’m targeting a niche market for people who appreciate art, but I think that market is getting bigger and there are more people who are looking at jewellery as art and not just an investment,” says Pavit. Following trends is not something that she abides by, and instead prefers to create her own trends. “All my pieces are inspired by ideas that come very spontaneously and that’s why I can’t be following a trend. If I do, then somewhere or the other I will be compromising.”

The jewellery designer goes by the term ‘jewellery popstar’ on Instagram, a term inspired by her iconic inspiration, Lady Gaga, as she hopes to become the first of her kind in the industry.

Hailing from Punjab, India, the colours that Pavit infuses into her works are inspired by the colourful nature and diversity of her country. She even designed an inter-cultural piece, which was the Indian tikka, inspired by Egyptian pyramids. “Tikkas are usually round or crescent shaped, so I ended up doing a triangle version of it, which has never been seen before and all the diamonds in it were also triangular. I love playing with shapes and colours.”

Be it on her Instagram feed or in her exhibitions, there is always a detailed story and history of the gemstone mentioned either in the form of a post or a QR code. Pavit goes by the principle of educating people about what they are wearing and adding more value to it through its rich history. “There’s a piece, which I have designed with my grandmother’s old stones, so that is something they really enjoy knowing about. Otherwise, it’s just a piece of jewellery. The story adds value to it.”

Model

Dubai-based actor model Shreyas Mehta launches high-street designer fashion brand ‘Flashmob Nation’

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments
  • Actor-cum-model and the “Dubai Boy”-fame Shreyas Mehta’s high-street designer brand ‘Flashmob Nation’ was launched at the Dubai Design District, marking the dawn of homegrown labels in the city’s flourishing textile and cosmopolitan culture

Dubai, UAE: Flashmob Nation, a high-street designer brand led by Dubai-based actor-cum-model Shreyas Mehta, was launched at the Design District, on 12th March, with great fanfare. The launch of a local high-street designer brand, Flashmob Nation, coincides with a unique juncture when the city is shaping a unique textile and cosmopolitan identity globally.

Actor and model of the “Dubai Boy” fame, Shreyas Mehta is the brains behind Flashmob Nation, which he regards as a product of his decade-long work experience as a buyer and a lifelong desire to launch a label that empowers people in more ways than one. A well-timed launch, Flashmob Nation garnered an overwhelming and positive response from industry stalwarts and attendees. The brand frenzy carried over to the glittering after-party as well.

“The launch of Flashmob Nation at Dubai Design District was special because of what we aim to achieve: A high-street designer brand that the city can call its own. My sincere gratitude to everyone who was part of this ambitious vision from the get-go. Your unconditional support, word-of-mouth efforts, and patronage turned this vision into a grand reality,” expressed Shreyas Mehta, who recently starred in Bravo TV’s popular reality show ‘Love Without Borders’.

A unisex brand with sartorial excellence and a strong sense of cosmopolitanism, Flashmob Nation has announced itself with diverse offerings. Its entire portfolio of dresses, t-shirts, partywear, denim, tracksuits, and more exhibit only a few uniformities: Premium material, eye-catching design, and an unapologetic sense of fashion. The inaugural collections include a bohemian ensemble called the ‘Snob Society’ and a fit-for-purpose set named the ‘Party Criminal’.

Sequin-heavy apparel dominates the collections with its exquisite attribute, bearing the stand-out promise of Flashmob Nation. From one-shoulder bodycon and mini dresses to contemporary crop tops to eccentric oversized jackets, sequin is the staple. Carefree clubbing is embodied by zip-up and buttoned co-ord sets in outlandish silver tones and solid colours. Shine-finish belted coats, faux fur corset tops, embellished denim, and vintage black blazers are not just party outfits but party starters in their own right.

“Creative expression meets high-street fashion in our inaugural collections. We have drawn eclectic influences before designing them, be it reinterpreting the bygone textile culture or pushing the boundaries of contemporary fashion. The core objective of Flashmob Nation is stylistic liberation; not to box itself within existing fashion paradigms,” added Mehta.

His beliefs are best exemplified by avant-garde options such as distressed t-shirts and embroidered collars and cuffs in plain shirts and flamboyant “shackets”. And for those who seek modern minimalism, Flashmob Nation strikes a chord with its “Basic” collection of co-ord sets of hoodies and trousers. The inclusiveness, Mehta says, will always be the defining spirit of Flashmob Nation — Dubai’s all-new homegrown high-street designer brand.

About Shreyas Mehta

Born in Mumbai and bred in Dubai, Shreyas Mehta is a model-cum-actor whose approach to life and career is rooted in a culture of discipline, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence — qualities he brought to the screen in his breakthrough role in Bravo TV’s ‘Love Without Borders’. In the hit series, Shreyas instantly struck a chord with the global audience for his screen persona and for truly embodying the multicultural spirit of Dubai. Like many success stories in Dubai, Shreyas’ journey began with robust academic credentials. 

The unique combination of an undergraduate degree in mass media and postgraduation in fashion design first led Shreyas to Twenty4, a brand where he honed his skills and excelled in the Buyer role. It didn’t take long for Shreyas to emerge as the face of leading brands, feature in several advertisements and major fashion weeks like IIJW, model for sought-after fashion designers, and bag many accolades, including the Tassel Designers Award 2013.

While building on the success of ‘Love Without Borders’ and advancing his career in the entertainment industry, Shreyas Mehta is gearing up for the launch of his own fashion label, which represents a blend of his strong creative streak, academic knowledge, and diverse cultural experiences spanning Middle Eastern, Indian and Western design influences.

Politics

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets President of Romania

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

The two leaders discussed opportunities to expand ties between their nations.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, held talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday.

The two leaders discussed opportunities to expand ties between their nations across trade, the economy, renewable energy, sustainability and food security.

They also reviewed regional and international issues during the meeting.

Mr Iohannis praised the positive role played by the Emirates on the global stage.

“During my meeting today with the visiting Romanian President, we discussed the overall relations, and agreed on the importance of developing communication between the two countries in all sectors,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

The meeting was attended by a number of senior ministers and figures including Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline, Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation; Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

President Sheikh Mohamed hosted the Romanian leader on Monday as part of his tour.

Mr Iohannis and first lady Carmen Iohannis were welcomed by a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute at Qasr Al Watan in the UAE capital.

Politics

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid pardons 971 prisoners for Ramadan 2023

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

UAE leaders typically offer an amnesty to hundreds of inmates each year.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has pardoned 971 prisoners on the occasion of Ramadan.

The humanitarian gesture will give the inmates from Dubai’s correctional and punitive establishments a second chance in life and help strengthen family ties.

UAE leaders typically offer amnesty to hundreds of inmates each year in keeping with the generous spirit of the holy month.

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, ordered the release of 399 inmates.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, pardoned 338 inmates.

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, ordered the release of 151 prisoners who have a proven track record of good conduct.

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, approved the release of 135 prisoners who had demonstrated good conduct.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, ordered the release of a number of prisoners from punitive and corrective institutions in the emirate.

On Tuesday, President Sheikh Mohamed pardoned 1,025 prisoners before the start of Ramadan.

Pardon lists

The humanitarian gesture to release prisoners ahead of Ramadan, also made during other religious festivals and national events, aims to reward prisoners who have sought rehabilitation and release a burden from the shoulders of their families.

Proposed pardon lists comprising names of inmates whose crimes are less serious, often financial offences, are prepared by prisons in each emirate and shared with prosecutors.

Based on orders from the attorney general in each emirate, the lists are revised and compared with the case files of each inmate before being finalised.

After being approved by the attorney general, the list would then be forwarded to the respective ruler’s court, where a decision is issued on their release.

Who could be eligible?

Those eligible for pardon must have served a portion of their sentence — a specific period is not dictated — demonstrated good conduct, have not been covered by previous pardon decisions and have participated in rehabilitation and reform programmes carried out by the correctional institutions.

Prisoners whose debts are not settled as part of their release must first clear any financial obligations.

If they are incapable of paying the sum, their cases will be shared with approved charities to help pay off their debts and help them return to their families.

Inmates who were sentenced to deportation after completing their terms will be deported after a pardon.

Science & Tech

Emirates Lunar Mission: UAE’s Rashid Rover enters orbit

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

MBRSC explains final stages of rover prior to landing on Moon’s surface in April.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) on Tuesday announced the successful lunar orbit insertion by Rashid Rover, the first Emirati rover to land on the surface of the moon. The rover is now just one step away from making history.

The iSpace lander carrying the Rashid Rover performed its first lunar orbit insertion manoeuvre in accordance with the mission operation plan, at 5.24am UAE time on March 21, under the direction of lander engineers, MBRSC said.

After a controlled burn from the lander’s main propulsion system lasting several minutes, the manoeuvre was successfully completed.

The insertion into lunar orbit is an important step toward the upcoming milestones of the Rashid Rover, beginning with the remaining 5 subsystem checks.

The completion of all lunar orbital manoeuvres prior to the beginning of the landing sequence, which is scheduled to be announced around late April 2023.

Earlier this month, Salem Humaid Al Marri, director general of MBRSC had announced that the Rashid Rover was expected to land on the Moon’s surface on April 25.

However, on Tuesday said specific information on the date and time of the landing would be announced in the upcoming days.

Rashid Rover Milestones

Post the successful completion of the first milestone, that is the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), and the second milestone the cruise phase, Rashid Rover is now on its way to complete the third milestone -the Arrival Phase (Entry, Descent, and Landing).MBRSC said this will be the most intense of all, as the lander will have to land on the lunar surface based on its system’s calculation to stay on course for a specific landing spot on the moon.

The next stage is the Deployment, Commissioning and Drive-off phase. Once the Lander has landed on the lunar surface, deployment, commissioning and drive-off command sessions will begin. Following completion of the post-landing checkout, instrument commissioning and initial data collection will begin.

Following that is the Nominal Surface Operations phase, which is the mission itself. For 10-12 days, the Rashid rover will conduct continuous surface research and image capture.

Two final stages

The two final phases after the lunar day are hibernation and last decommissioning. Then the rover prepares for the lunar night. When the secondary communication is activated, all information captured is downloaded and every effort is made to ensure that no information is missed, before the hibernation phase.

The chances of the rover restarting are slim; however, if the rover is activated after the lunar night then the mission will be extended to operate throughout the second lunar night which will end by the decommissioning phase.

This ambitious mission undertaken by the UAE to study the surface of the moon is considered a gateway for future exploration of other planets.The mission is funded by the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) which aims to support research and development in the ICT sector in the UAE.

Science & Tech

UAE outlines plan to increase domestic food production and consumption

head dubai March 23, 2023 No Comments

Launch of National Dialogue for Food Security aims to reduce imports and improve sustainability.

Salmon farming on land, Fitbit-style devices for cattle and acres of greenhouses producing vegetables in a Mediterranean environment — the face of farming in the UAE is changing fast.

With a 70 per cent increase in global food demand expected by 2050, and climate change affecting agricultural production, innovation is proving the key to easing food insecurity.

A campaign by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment aims to unite businesses with innovation and funding to tackle such issues.

Local farms are at the heart of the National Dialogue for Food Security, which will be supported to become major suppliers in the UAE to help reduce the reliance on imported goods.

There is potential to localise sourcing for many of the UAE’s food needs and to do so in a way that is sustainable, economic and environmentally sound
Sky Kurtz, Pure Harvest chief executive

The project will develop a platform for emerging innovation in food production to improve the use of hydroponic, aeroponic and aquaponic farming that uses minimal resources to produce a high yield of fresh fruit and vegetables while providing a gateway into the mass market.

The drive aims to increase domestic production and self-sufficiency of selected food items and improve the income of UAE farms without compromising food trade.

Under the plan, bodies will increase their purchases of fresh national food products to 50 per cent by the end of this year, 70 per cent by 2025 and 100 per cent by 2030.

Food products and plant varieties identified in the first phase include red meat, poultry, eggs and other dairy products, dates, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and aubergine. A study is currently being conducted to identify more products for the second phase.

Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Minister of State for Food Security, said recent global crises have underlined the need for promoting food security in the UAE.

“To promote food security, the UAE has taken strategic steps, such as deploying advanced technology to strengthen the local food production sector, enhancing its contribution to closing the food gap and tackling food loss and waste by launching several initiatives, like Ne’ma, to promote the sustainability of national farms,” she said.

“These initiatives aim to enhance food security in the UAE by boosting production and marketing effectiveness for local farms, particularly those following a modern and sustainable approach.”

Ne’ma — Arabic for blessing — is a campaign aimed at curbing food loss and waste by encouraging responsible consumption.

At a meeting on Monday to discuss the latest developments, it was revealed a farm in Maliha in Sharjah had produced more than 15,000 tonnes of protein-enriched wheat.

It is the latest example of how staple foods can be produced sustainably in the UAE.

The planet’s population is expected to swell to 9.5 billion by 2050, with climate change continuing to cause extreme weather events and drought which heavily impact food production.

With freshwater sources also depleting, scientists have turned to innovation to solve these global issues.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s recent statistics show there are 38,000 farms operating in the UAE.

Total UAE vegetable production is about 156,000 tonnes annually, with more than 500 tonnes of field crops and feed, while fruit production is about 200,000 tonnes.

Domestic production of vegetables currently meets more than 20 per cent of the total demand in the country.

Precision farming, using data science and agricultural engineering, has increased yields, while high-tech greenhouses and vertical farms are reducing the need for water.

In livestock agriculture, gene editing, bio-engineering and smart tech to monitor cattle more closely are being used to increase meat production to keep up with consumer demand and close the food price gap.

Alternative proteins with more food derived from non-animal sources are also likely to become more common, using insects and plant-based meats.

Farming innovation

Health trackers worn by dairy cattle — known as rumination collars — keep track of their health and food consumption, monitoring production and allowing farm managers to oversee a large herd more effectively.

An innovation already in widespread use across the country is salmon farming on land, using huge tanks to replicate the fish’s life-cycle in the wild.

Fish were identified as one of the UAE’s strategic food items under the 2018 Food Security Strategy.

At about 30kg per capita, it has among the fish highest consumption in the GCC, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

In 2019, domestic fish made up only 8 per cent of UAE consumption but that is beginning to change, with farmed salmon controlled in freshwater tanks (which are transferred to seawater as they grow) proving an efficient method of sustainable production.

Pure Harvest's temperature-controlled farming tunnels and domes create the perfect Mediterranean climate to produce impressive yields. Photo: Pure Harvest Smart Farms

Pure Harvest’s temperature-controlled farming tunnels and domes create the perfect Mediterranean climate to produce impressive yields. Photo: Pure Harvest Smart Farms

Added to these innovative farming methods, the growing of fruit and vegetables in the arid desert has become one of the biggest success stories.

In huge temperature-controlled farming tunnels and domes, Pure Harvest Smart Farms has created the perfect Mediterranean climate to produce impressive yields of fruit and vegetables in Al Ain.

With temperatures regulated to between 14°C-32°C, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables and berries are produced using only a 30th of the amount of water usually required.

“This shows what can be done,” said Sky Kurtz, chief executive of Pure Harvest, a smart farm producing around 18 metric tonnes of food a week.

“Change [in the way we produce food] will require investment and re-education.

“There is potential to localise sourcing for many of the UAE’s food needs and to do so in a way that is sustainable, economic and environmentally sound.”

By the end of this year, the UAE hopes local farms and producers will be able to supply half of some basic food requirements, such as greens, tomatoes, meat and poultry, with an ambition to double that target by 2030.

“This will require a co-ordinated effort between the government and the private sector,” said Mr Kurtz.

“Many of the technology-enabled food production solutions that are necessary to produce food year-round in the UAE require capital, scale and know-how to deliver.

“The more that the government can do to support the many elements that underpin the fundamental business cases of these solutions, the better.”