Abu Dhabi, U.A.E : Emirati CEO of GSU recognised as pioneer of Arab–African cooperation

The African media organisation Financial Afrik, during the current edition of its annual conference hosted by the Gambian capital Banjul, selected Ali Alshimmari, Managing Director and CEO of the UAE-based company Global South Utilities, as a pioneer of Arab–African cooperation, as part of a list of 100 influential African figures in the fields of economy, investment, and development, in recognition of his role in supporting sustainable energy projects and promoting long-term investment across the African continent.

President Adama Barrow of The Gambia received Alshimmari and expressed his appreciation for the UAE’s support and investments in the continent.

This recognition marks the second of its kind that Alshimmari has received within a few months. In September, he was awarded the Officer of the National Order of Chad by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, one of the country’s highest honors, making him the first foreign company CEO to receive this distinction from the Chadian president. The award recognised Alshimmari’s commitment to delivering the Noor Chad Solar Power Plant in record time.

Alshimmari has emerged as one of the UAE’s prominent young executives in the renewable energy sector. He previously held senior positions at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Masdar, and worked on cross-border renewable energy projects, before assuming leadership of Global South Utilities, a subsidiary of Resources Investment Group in Abu Dhabi.

Following the award ceremony, Alshimmari said, “In Africa, energy is neither a luxury nor a technical issue. When electricity reaches an African village, it is not just lighting, but life in motion. Schools operate, clinics remain open, and the economy moves. This is the Africa we are working for.”

Alshimmari recently stated during the Global South Utilities Forum, hosted as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, that, “In the Global South, sustainability is not a vision of the future-it is the price of delay, paid today,” adding that, “While much of the world debates sustainability in the Global South, the UAE is busy building it.”

The company is currently implementing several renewable energy projects in a number of African countries, including Madagascar, the Central African Republic, the Comoros Islands, and Chad, contributing to improving local production capacity and supporting economic stability.

Global South Utilities aims to reach a production capacity of 750 megawatts by 2027, having so far financed projects with a total capacity of nearly 400 megawatts, including projects implemented within the African continent.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

DUBAI – U.A.E : Dubai ranks among world’s top five, leads Arab World in Shipping Centre Development Index 2025

Dubai has reinforced its status as a leading global maritime hub, earning the title of “the crown jewel of the Middle East’s maritime sector,” according to the 2025 International Shipping Centre Development Index report, issued by Xinhua News Agency in collaboration with the Baltic Exchange. The report ranks Dubai among the top five global shipping centres and first in the Arab region.

Sheikh Dr. Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, part of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, hailed the achievement stating: “Dubai’s ranking as fifth globally and first in the Arab world in the 2025 International Shipping Centre Development Index reflects the vision of our leadership, as well as the effective coordination between strategic partners and maritime sector companies in the emirate.

We remain committed to continuous development, delivering world-class services, adopting global maritime best practices, implementing innovative solutions, updating regulations, and fostering a thriving maritime business environment to position Dubai as an innovative and sustainable global centre for shipping and logistics.”

The report highlights Dubai’s comprehensive maritime ecosystem, offering navigation services, shipbuilding and repair, and capacity to handle the increasing number of vessels. It also emphasised the Dubai Maritime Transport Plan 2030, aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to expand maritime transport usage, enhance the network of marine transportation, and develop Dubai Maritime City.

The report specifically praised Jebel Ali Port for its strategic role as a regional shipping hub, underpinned by continuous investment in infrastructure and services. In 2024, the port handled 15.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the highest since 2015, accounting for 18% of the total 88.3 million TEUs managed by DP World, the port operator.

On sustainability, the report highlighted Jebel Ali Port’s initiatives to reduce emissions, including the provision of biofuel for ships, installation of 50,000 m² of solar panels for renewable energy, and the use of electric vehicles for container handling—contributing to an annual reduction of 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Captain Ibrahim Al Blooshi, Executive Director of Dubai Ports Authority, commented: “We take pride in this achievement, which underscores Dubai’s strong position as a global maritime hub. Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World under the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, continues to excel at both regional and international levels.

Dubai Ports Authority is committed to proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector’s contribution to the strategic objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, through its three ports—Jebel Ali, Port Rashid, and Hamriyah—despite global economic challenges and market fluctuations. We are dedicated to preserving the emirate’s marine environment and ensuring the highest operational safety standards in the maritime sector.”

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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DUBAI, U.A.E.

U.A.E : Sheikh Mohammed praises Emirati influential figures on TIME magazine’s second annual TIME100 AI list

Sheikh Mohammed praises Emirati influential figures on TIME magazine’s second annual TIME100 AI list.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, underscored the pivotal role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in shaping the future of the global economy.

The Vice-President’s remarks coincided with the release of TIME magazine’s second annual TIME100 AI list, which highlights the 100 most influential individuals in the field of artificial intelligence.

On his X account, Sheikh Mohammed said: “In a rapidly evolving world, technology is the driving force behind the future global economy, with artificial intelligence at its core. Time magazine has released its annual list of the 100 most influential figures in this field, recognising those shaping the future of AI on a global scale.”

“Among these visionaries is my brother, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who leads numerous institutions, companies, partnerships, and global initiatives, contributing not only to the local landscape but also to shaping the future of this sector on a global level. His efforts play a pivotal role in defining the future of the global economy.

“Also featured on the list is Faisal Al Bannai, a member of the national team and a leader in one of the world’s leading companies in this field. Our nation takes great pride in their accomplishments, standing behind their vision, and betting on the same future they are helping to create. The future will be built with their leadership, and the generations to come will benefit from their achievements,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)

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Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s efforts play a pivotal role in defining the future of the global economy.Image Credit: X / HHShkMohd

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

U.A.E: Emirati student Ali Al-Loughani receives a sash, a leadership medal and two gold medals at the London Inventions Exhibition

Emirati student Ali Humaid Al Loughani received the Leadership Sash and Medal at the 6th International Exhibition of Inventions and Trade held in the British capital, London, in which he participated under the patronage and support of the Dubai Digital Authority, outperforming 285 inventors from different countries of the world, despite being the youngest participant in the international event.

Emirati inventor Ali Al Loughani presented two of his inventions: the “Ship Accident Prevention Project,” which relies on artificial intelligence technologies and aims to protect ships and enhance safety in the maritime navigation sector to high levels, in addition to the “Hydropower” project for generating hybrid energy, which combines solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells, and employs Internet of Things technologies.

 for the two projects he participated in, and was honored by the Inventors Association of Romania, Norton University of Cambodia, and the National University of Science and Technology in Bucharest.


Al Loughani’s project, a ship accident system based on artificial intelligence technologies, is an advanced innovation that aims to enhance safety levels in the maritime sector through advanced technologies that monitor and analyze potential risks during navigation.

The technology of this project relies on collecting detailed data on sea conditions, ship speed, and weather conditions in real time, and analyzing them using artificial intelligence techniques.

Based on these analyses, the system can make proactive decisions to avoid collisions and marine accidents that could threaten the safety of passengers and cause significant damage to ships and marine infrastructure.

This innovative project can be part of global efforts to enhance sustainability in maritime transport, as it contributes to reducing the environmental impacts of marine accidents, such as oil spills and the resulting pollution. In addition, the system contributes to protecting marine life and ensuring the smooth and safe continuation of global trade.

 combining solar energy and hydrogen fuel cells to provide a sustainable and efficient energy source.

The project depends on converting solar energy into electrical energy using solar panels, and then using this energy to produce hydrogen through the electrolysis process.

The hydrogen is stored and later used to generate electricity through hydrogen fuel cells, which contributes to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions.

The project consists of solar panels that convert sunlight into electrical energy, hydrogen fuel cells that generate electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen, a charge controller to regulate the electrical voltage, batteries to store electrical energy, and an electrolysis generator to produce hydrogen from water.

The project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy sustainability, improve energy storage efficiency, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, especially in the field of clean energy and climate action. It is considered a model for renewable energy that can be widely applied in the future.

Student Ali Al-Loughani has a long record of creativity and invention, as he has previously won a number of awards and honors for his efforts and achievements.

Last year, 2023, he won the 34th edition of the Technology, Innovation and Invention Exhibition in Malaysia for his invention of a robot that helps senior citizens in their daily lives using Internet of Things technologies.

He won second place in the Young Inventors category out of 700 competing inventors from 19 countries around the world.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES(U.A.E) : Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs Elected Chairman of the Development Committee of the World Bank Group(WBG) and International Monetary Fund (WBG-IMF)

 Mohamed Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, has been elected as Chairman of the Development Committee (DC) of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which aims to achieve international cooperation and consensus on issues related to development. The DC is a joint ministerial committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and the Fund.

During his two-year tenure, the minister will work with the committee’s members that include ministers, and the Board of Governors of the WBG and IMF to complete and manage the committee’s programmes related to sustainable and comprehensive economic development, in order to build and develop the economies of developing countries.

Al Hussaini thanked the member states and the WBG for electing him as the Committee Chairman, stressing the United Arab Emirates’ keenness on cooperating and coordinating with its strategic partners and all international organisations to enable comprehensive and sustainable development at all levels.

A ministerial-level forum that represents the member countries of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, the Development Committee was established in 1974 and was previously known as the ‘Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors of the Bank and Fund’. It comprises 25 members from the finance or development ministries that are members of the WBG and the IMF.

The Committee is mandated to address a wide range of issues, including, but not limited to, the role of the IMF and WBG, in confronting future crises, digitalisation, the green economy, trade, industrial policies, and poverty.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E) : Mansoor Al Mansoori Crowned UIM F2 World Champion after dramatic events in Portugal Grand Prix

Al Mansoori succeeds teammate Rashed Al Qemzi who secured his third F2 world title with victory in Portugal 12 months ago.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al Mansoori is the new UIM F2 world champion following a dramatic series of events at the Grand Prix of Portugal.

Norway’s Tobias Munthe-Kaas, Germany’s Stefan Hagin and Finland’s Sami Selio were each disqualified from the final round of the 2022 series for engine infringements following post-race technical checks.

This followed the earlier one lap penalty imposed on Edgaras Riabko for a start infringement, which dropped the Lithuanian from second place to 10th.

The decisions saw American Brent Dillard replacing Munthe-Kaas as race winner, while Al Mansoori climbed from sixth to second position to take the F2 crown, with an 18-point winning margin from Sharjah Team driver Selio.

Hagin, who had provisionally been acclaimed as world champion, finished third in the standings, another point away.

Al Mansoori, who joined Team Abu Dhabi last year, succeeds teammate Rashed Al Qemzi who secured his third F2 world title with victory in Portugal 12 months ago.

It means Guido Cappellini has now delivered 15 powerboat world championships to Abu Dhabi Marine Sport Club since taking charge as Team Abu Dhabi manager in February 2015

Team Abu Dhabi were also celebrating another world title success on Monday after Rashid Al Mulla clinched his fifth successive freestyle crown at the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship in Italy.

The Emirati had to borrow a friend’s jet ski after his own ski suffered mechanical problems in preparation for the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix in Olbia.

It made little difference, as Al Mulla extended his dominance of freestyle by recording his 14th consecutive Grand Prix victory in a run stretching back to 2017.

source/content: khaleejtimes.com (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

U.A.E : Pilot Aisha Al Mansoori makes History as the UAE’s First Female Captain, Etihad Airways

An experienced pilot has risen through the ranks over 15 years with Etihad.

There is no limit for Emirati women, says Aisha Al Mansoori who has risen through the ranks from a cadet pilot at Etihad Airways to become captain. She is the first Emirati woman to achieve the feat.

At the airline’s crew briefing centre , Al Mansoori received four stripes on her uniform, confirming her new rank.

“I feel very happy and proud,” said the pilot aged 33, who has almost 6,000 flight hours under her wings since joining the UAE’s national airline more than 15 years ago.

“It is an achievement that I’ve been looking forward to and working hard for since I was a cadet pilot,” she told The National.

She took inspiration from her sister, Major Mariam Al Mansouri, the UAE’s first female fighter pilot.

“Growing up, becoming a pilot was not really an option for Emirati women. But I was lucky that my sister started flying when I was still in high school. I went with her to the air show,” she tells The National.

“When I saw the aircraft and pilots, I just fell in love. I knew that is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

She joined Etihad’s cadet programme in 2007 where she trained with a Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine aircraft, and Diamond DA42, a four-seat, twin-engine aircraft.

After graduating, Al Mansoori joined Etihad Airways as a cadet pilot on Airbus A320. She progressed to flying Airbus A330s and became the first female UAE national to fly an A380 superjumbo, the world’s largest passenger jet.

Now she is back to flying Airbus A320s as a captain. Over the years, she was promoted to the ranks of second officer, first officer and senior first officer, and has now taken on the rank of captain, marking a first for her country. It has been a long and rewarding journey, and she still remembers the first time she took to the skies.

“The first time I flew an aircraft, it felt very isolated in the cockpit because we have to keep the doors closed. I had come after training in a simulator which is also a closed box environment. So, I was very focused on my mission,” she says.

“That’s when a training captain told me I should step outside and say goodbye to the passengers. And only then it hit me that those are the people who trust me with their lives. I realised what a great responsibility and a great honour it is to be a pilot.”

The job is also full of challenges, says Al Mansoori.

“If you’re not passionate, it’s hard to survive because of [the] long and irregular working hours. Sometimes you have to work through the night. You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and control your rest to be able to function. But at the same time, the joy and fulfilment of the job are definitely worth it.”

The sky seems to be the limit for this high-flying Emirati who would one day like to train and inspire future pilots. “I think we have a lot of promising talents in the company that will do great in the future,” she said.

But for now, she’s excited that her milestone shatters another glass ceiling for Emirati women.

“We are both privileged and lucky to be born in the UAE as opportunities are open. All you need to do is seek it and take it.”

“Etihad is extremely proud of Captain Aisha’s achievement and the trailblazing role she is playing for women in aviation in the UAE. She will no doubt be the first of many, and Etihad looks forward to welcoming more female pilots to the rank of Captain in the future,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer at Etihad Aviation Group.

Al Mansoori will commence regular flying duties as a captain at Etihad on August 28, a day that also marks Emirati Women’s Day.

source/contents: thenationalnews.com (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

WORLD RECORD: EMIRATES (U.A.E) : NYU Abu Dhabi Research Scientist to Publish the World’s First Arabic Mars Atlas

NYU Abu Dhabi research scientist Dr. Dimitra Atri has produced the world’s first ever Mars atlas in Arabic, Emirates News Agency reported.

The atlas uses data from the UAE’s Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) — also known as Hope or Al-Amal — in order to make the findings of the probe more accessible to both the UAE’s Arabic-speaking population and the rest of the world.

The Mars Atlas Project combines various images from the Hope probe to map the planet’s surface.

The end result is a comprehensive view of Mars and stunning images of a planet that once had similar atmospheric conditions to Earth.

Dimitra Atri used data from UAE’s Hope probe to map the red planet.

Atri and his team compiled the atlas by processing observational data from EMM’s Emirates eXploration Imager, one of three instruments onboard the orbiter. The device will also assist the team in showing how the planet changes over the course of one Mars year, which is roughly equivalent to two Earth years.

As more data from the Hope probe becomes available, the atlas will be gradually updated.

The data will help scientists gain a better understanding of the planet’s atmospheric thinning, which has caused it to cool and dry over the last 4 billion years.

Atri predicts that the collected data will be used to answer unsolved scientific questions about the erosion of Mars’ atmosphere.

The findings could help the international scientific community to better understand Earth’s atmospheric processes, he said.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Dubai Government’s DEWA receives 60 Awards, 2 Guinness World Records in 2021

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) continued its journey of excellence and global leadership during 2021 and strengthened its position as one of the most distinguished utilities in the world in all fields.

It has won 59 prestigious local, regional, and international awards, and set two world records in the Guinness World Records. In light of its new achievements, DEWA has accrued 383 awards (67 local, 67 regional, 249 global) since 2015 to the end of 2021.

One of DEWA’s most notable successes was achieving the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award (SKEA) in the Elite Category in 2021. DEWA scored 850 in the evaluation, the highest score in the Award’s history since its launch in 1999, with 200 local and regional organisations taking part in this round.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honoured DEWA with five awards at the Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) Awards in 2021. The most prominent award is the Elite Award, which is awarded to government entities that score 600 points or more.

Other awards include the Best Entity in the Emiratisation Field, Dubai Medal for Specialised Employee, Dubai Medal for Young Employee, and special recognition for the Unknown Soldier.

DEWA won the 2020 Hamdan Bin Mohammed Program for Government Services Flag for its Smart Living initiative.

During 2021, Guinness World Records recorded two world records by DEWA. Guinness World Records confirmed DEWA’s Jebel Ali Power Generation & Water Production Complex is the largest single-site natural gas power generation facility in the world. The Complex has an electricity generation capacity of 9,547 MW. The second record was for the first 3D-printed laboratory in the world. The record was awarded for DEWA’s Robotics & Drone laboratory, housed within the Research & Development (R&D) Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

DEWA seeks to set two new records for the tallest solar tower in the world at 262.44 metres and the largest 700-megawatt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the fourth phase of the Solar Park.

Lowest electricity and water network losses Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his proud of DEWA’s achievements.

Al Tayer noted that the DEWA’s record of prestigious awards is a translation of its relentless efforts that aspire to reach the top rank in all fields, and support Dubai’s efforts to become the city of the future.

source/contents : wam.ae (edited)

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Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

UAE Team Wins ‘IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship’, Luxembourg, April 2022

UAE team defeated Luxembourg, the hosts of the tournament, (8:1), at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Luxembourg, delivering an incredible win of the title.

The UAE national team scored a resounding victory over the Luxembourg team in their final match at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship DIV III A.

The UAE team scored the full mark of 12 points after winning four matches.

Hamel Al Qubaisi, Vice President of the UAE Winter Sports Federation, dedicated the landmark victory to the UAE leadership, which he said had provided all support and assistance to the sports in the country.

Juma Al Dhaheri, captain of UAE Ice Hockey Team, said the victory is a result of tireless work for more than ten years to assemble a strong, competitive team.

source/content: wam.ae (edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)