DUBAI, EMIRATES:First 100% Plant-based Meat Factory in Middle East opens in Dubai

The IFFCO Group, one of the UAE’s largest producers of food products, has opened the first 100-percent plant-based meat factory in the region, in Dubai.

Located in the Dubai Industrial City, the THRYVE factory will catalyse the move towards a more sustainable and healthy food chain in the Middle East, actively supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the UAE’s Vision 2051 initiative to bolster food security through diversity and innovation. The factory will provide nourishing, sustainable and healthy local plant-based meat products inspired by the unique flavours of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, said, “The new 100-percent plant-based meat factory supports the UAE’s Food Security Strategy and our mandate to mitigate the impact of climate change. The opening of this innovative new facility also supports our efforts to protect the country’s ecosystems and enhance its food and water security and diversify our food sources. By fostering such robust research and development focused on producing innovative food products, we seek to raise the UAE’s ability to move up the global food industry value chain and achieve first place on the Global Food Security Index by 2051. The new factory represents a significant contribution to sustainability in the food supply chain.”

Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism said, “The opening of this factory, which will pave the way for a dynamic new industry that will boost trade across the region, is a reflection of the UAE’s commitment to pioneer the use of innovative technologies to provide sustainable solutions to real world problems. It contributes to Dubai’s economic diversification journey in line with the goal of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to consolidate the emirate’s status as one of the top three global cities. The new facility is a testament to the pivotal role being played by Dubai in promoting the growth and evolution of environmentally sound practices that can alleviate the effects of climate change. By providing opportunities for private companies to invest in sustainable technologies, Dubai is accelerating the creation of a robust and resilient green economy.

“Such initiatives also reflect Dubai’s success in creating a fertile environment for new businesses and investors to thrive, and generating new job opportunities. Dubai and the UAE will continue to work with stakeholders and partners to remain at the forefront of innovation and economic sustainability, inspired by the ambition of our visionary leadership to create a better future for all.”

Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President, Industrial Leasing, Dubai Industrial City, said, “DIC is an ideal location for initiatives like the IFFCO Group’s plant-based meat factory that underscore the importance of food security. The Dubai Industrial City is home to a growing number of Dubai-based food manufacturers who are leading the way in introducing innovative food products. This new enterprise adds value to the industry while strengthening our reputation as facilitators of a self-reliant food programme.”

The THRYVE plant-based venture, developed using cutting-edge food technology, contributes to at least three UN’s SDG’s: good health and well-being, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.

The only 100 percent plant-based meat factory in the Middle East, IFFCO’s THRYVE will leverage advanced food technologies to produce tasty, healthy, sustainable and culturally relevant food that meets the needs of the local consumer. In addition, IFFCO is working closely with the government to create regulatory standards for plant-based food products.

The global plant-based meat market was estimated to be worth US$7.9 billion in 2022, and is forecast to reach US$15.7 billion by 2027, according to a report from ResearchAndMarkets.com. The newly opened THRYVE factory will cater to 30 percent of the GCC population, stimulating the development of the market for local plant-based products. As per proprietary research, the GCC has the potential to be a future leader in developing food products for flexitarians, people whose diet is primarily vegetarian.

source/content: wam.ae/en (headline edited)

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

WORLD ARAB RECORD: U.A.E : Longest Arab Space Mission in History Launched

Florida, March 02nd, 2023

The longest Arab space mission in history was launched today at 9:34 am (UAE time).

The 6-month mission is carried out by astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi aboard the International Space Station as part of Crew-6.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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ABU DHABI, UAE: NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD)-led Researchers Develop Smart Pill to advance Diagnosis, Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders

 A group of researchers led by a professor at NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a non-invasive system to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. 

Researchers have produced 3D magnetic field gradients using high-frequency electromagnetic coils to track the movement of an ingestible smart pill through the gastrointestinal tract, NYUAD said on Tuesday. 

The ingestible wireless device measures and transmits the field magnitude to determine its precise location, which is then sent to a smartphone via Bluetooth technology. 

It reportedly allows for a more accurate evaluation of the movement of food from the mouth through the throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines and out of the body. 

The system has been modeled using the digestive systems of large animals. 

Existing smart pills do not offer the large field-of-view, high spatial resolution and fully wireless operation that the 3D magnetic field gradient developed by the researchers allows for, WAM reported.  

“The smart pill our team has developed represents a more accessible and efficient approach to assessing GI motility that can benefit both patients and medical providers,” Khalil Ramadi, NYUAD assistant professor of bioengineering, said. 

“This is a new frontier for medical diagnosis and evidence-based treatment and has the potential, with further research and refinement, to revolutionize how we can most effectively address health challenges that impact millions of people worldwide,” Ramadi added.

It is estimated that more than one-third of the world’s population suffers from gastrointestinal disorders.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The new non-invasive system aims to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders. (Shutterstock)

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DUBAI, U.A.E. : DEWA’s R&D Centre Registers its 7th Patent for 3D Printing Adhesive Device

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Research and Development Centre (R&D) has registered a new patent on an adhesive device for 3D printers, which automatically distributes the adhesive material on the 3D printing plate. This ensures that the printed material sticks adequately to the build plate. This is the seventh patent registered by the R&D Centre.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlighted that this achievement supports DEWA’s efforts to develop advanced infrastructure and specialised software in 3D printing and additive manufacturing, and invest in them to overcome challenges in the energy sector. DEWA uses 3D printers to produce prototypes and spare parts for DEWA’s generation, transmission, and distribution divisions, and to support the digitisation of its inventory.

“The R&D Centre supports innovation in all production and operational areas, becoming a global platform to enhance the operations and services of all utilities’ divisions. It supports DEWA’s efforts in innovation which is a key pillar of its work. 3D printing projects launched by DEWA are widely recognised by utilities worldwide. DEWA works to enhance its production and operational capacity by investing in these technologies. This is through its 3D printing programme, which has been selected as one of the Dubai 10X initiative projects. The initiative was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which mandates the Government of Dubai to be a global leader that is 10 years ahead of all other cities. The programme also supports the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, which is a unique global initiative to use technology for the service of humanity and promote the status of the UAE and Dubai as a global hub for 3D printing technology, by 2030,” added Al Tayer.

“In addition to the seven patents registered by the R&D centre so far, it has published 134 research papers at international scientific conferences, journals and peer-reviewed publications. It includes 48 researchers, including 31 PhD and master’s degree holders. It enriches the scientific community with specialised research, spreading knowledge and developing the capabilities of the researchers. This enhances Dubai’s position as a global hub for research and development in solar power, smart grids, water and energy efficiency, and capacity building in these areas,” said Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA.

source/content: mediaoffice.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (EMIRATES) ” Youssef Mirza, Asian and Arab Cycling Champion: The Paris Olympics are a top priority

Youssef Mirza, the national cycling team player, expressed his happiness at achieving two gold medals in the “team time trial” race after an absence of years, as well as the “individual time trial” race within the Arab Cycling Championship competitions held in Sharjah with the participation of 17 Arab countries.

Mirza, who previously won the Asian gold medal, won the gold medal during the race in which 16 players participated, including Saif Mayouf, the national team player, as well as the gold medal in the “team against the clock” with the elite riders of the UAE team.

Mirza said – in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM – that the competition for the individual and team time trial title was not easy, with the presence of elite riders from the participating Arab teams, indicating that the great support and backing of colleagues was one of the reasons that led to this achievement. Achievement, especially the medal of the teams that have been absent from the national team for years.

He added: The gold medal in the individual race against the clock, as well as the teams, gave me a great incentive to complete the journey in the Arab Championship for mountain competitions, which is the most difficult and powerful, as it requires more training, effort and high morale in order to reach the desired goal.

On preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mirza said: “The preparations will begin with the beginning of the new year, through a special program in several countries, with the support of the National Olympic Committee, in order to realize the dream of qualifying for the Olympics, where the preparation will be with the participation of a group of my teammates, especially since Qualification for the Paris Olympics remains a top priority, indicating that there is a specific calendar that will be adhered to in order to continue collecting points, to ensure qualification and participation in the Paris Olympics.

Youssef Mirza thanked his teammates for their great support during the race, as well as the UAE Cycling Federation, which provides him and his colleagues with all means of support and care.

Mustafa Badr Al-Din / Ahmed Mustafa

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Safiya Al Sayegh: First Female Emirati Athlete to ride in the Road Cycling World Championship 2022, Wollongong, Australia

‘I feel like I hold a lot of hope’ says first Emirati rider in Women’s WorldTour.

As the first Emirati rider in the Women’s WorldTour and the sole national representative on UAE Team ADQ,  Safiya Al Sayegh is feeling both the pressures and the privileges of her position going into 2022.

20-year-old Al Sayegh is the UAE national road race and time trial champion, and was approached by the team last November after UAE Team Emirates took over Alé BTC Ljubljana’s WorldTeam licence. 

This is Al Sayegh’s first professional contract and a significant adjustment from racing for the Dubai Police Cycling Team, but her first experience with the UAE Team ADQhas been positive.

“When I was going to Spain [for training camp] and before I left, it was quite overwhelming to think of how it was going to be and how it’s going to go,” she wondered. 

“Will I adjust with the team and how will I get on? But I’m very happy to say that everything went really well. I really enjoyed it, it was a really good start.”

Al Sayegh is the first female rider from the UAE to join a WorldTeam and only the second of any gender, after UAE Team Emirates’ Yousif Mirza, and she acknowledged the pressures that come with being in that position.

“It’s a big honour, and it’s actually a big responsibility on my shoulders,” she said. “I feel like I hold a lot of hope, especially from my country, because lots of people have helped me. And it really makes me want to push harder and strive even higher, with all the support and hope I have from the country – and from the Arab world, actually. It really pushes me to want more, to achieve more and to progress.

The men’s UAE Team Emirates squad, Al Sayegh said, has helped raise the profile of the sport in the UAE among both men and women, and she is looking forward to ‘representing all the local girls’. 

Though an experienced racer in the UAE and Asia, Al Sayegh has only raced in Europe once before, the Rás na mBan stage race in Ireland in 2017, and she is conscious of the challenges ahead of her this year.

“Keeping up with the level is one concern I have,” she said. 

“But hopefully with hard work, I will try to progress to the level of Europe. And one of my concerns is that pretty much every day in the peloton, crashes are happening. So I just hope to stay safe while racing.”

In the UAE much of Al Sayegh’s riding is done on wide highways or flat, protected bike paths, meaning even the change in terrain is a source of apprehension.

“In Europe, I know some races can be on quite dangerous roads or have quite steep downhills and stuff. So I do look forward to racing but I am quite worried about all the crashes and the dangers.”

Al Sayegh will continue to compete primarily in the UAE for the opening months of the season as she completes her university studies in Dubai, and will join the team in Europe from May.

“I really look forward to all the races my team is going to race, and I’ll be cheering here from the UAE.”

source/content: cyclingnews.com (headline edited) / matilda price

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Safiya Al Sayegh is rolling into European pro cycling, this season. (Photo: UAE Team ADQ)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E): 51st UAE National Day, December 02nd : New Dh1,000 Currency Note with Special Design Unveiled

New note highlights UAE’s global achievements in space and clean energy.

The UAE Central Bank unveiled a new Dh1,000 currency note on Friday as part of the country’s 51st National Day celebrations.

Made of polymer using innovative designs and advanced security features, the banknote is the fourth in the Third Issuance of the National Currency Project, the Central Bank said.

The banknote will be available in Central Bank branches and ATMs in the first half of 2023, while the current Dh1,000 note will continue to be in circulation.

The front side of the banknote depicts the image of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan next to a model of a space shuttle. This was inspired by the meeting of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with the pioneers of the American space agency NASA in 1976 to express the ambitions of the founding leader to position the UAE amongst the pioneering explorers of the space.

This ambition was achieved in the Emirates Mars Mission ‘Hope Probe’ journey in 2021, and it was embodied in the new banknote by placing the image entitled “Emirates Mission to Explore Mars – the Hope Probe” at the top of the banknote, left of late Sheikh Zayed image.

This dream was also reflected in the image of an astronaut added as a security mark that appears on both sides of the banknote, to express the arrival of the first Emirati astronaut to the space.

The Central Bank was also keen to focus on another global achievement for the UAE, by placing an image of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi on the reverse. The plant will play a key role in diversifying energy sources in the country and reduce carbon emissions.

The design of this new banknote contains distinctive aesthetic characteristics, with different shades of brown. The CBUAE preserved the colour characteristics of the same denomination banknote currently in circulation to make it easy for the public to identify, in addition to the fluorescent blue marks of the UAE nation brand in the centre, and drawings and inscriptions created using advanced intaglio printing techniques.

Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said: “The issuance of the new Dh1,000 banknote comes under the vision of UAE’s President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to keep-up with the comprehensive development our country is witnessing, and represent UAE’s global achievements and successes, as well as highlight its future ambitions in various sectors.”

source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)

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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) : 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): Sultan Al Neyadi Chosen As First Arab To Go On 6-Month Mission To Space

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the third Middle Eastern nation to send a man into space in 2019 when it launched Hazza Al Mansouri to the International Space Station, making him the nation’s first astronaut according to catapult. The UAE then rose to the position of the 40th spacefaring nation. Now, Sultan Al Neyadi is another astronaut embarking on a new journey to set new records. An announcement was made earlier last week that UAE’s Al Neyadi will be flying to the orbiting lab on SpaceX’s Crew-6 mission, which is expected to launch in the first half of 2023 from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre in the U.S. His participation was arranged through a previously disclosed agreement with Axiom Space, a Texas-based aerospace company.

Al Neyadi was chosen among a group of Emirati astronauts to serve as the first Arab astronaut on a protracted space mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew-6 mission will be launched by NASA and SpaceX. Al Neyadi will carry out numerous intricate and sophisticated scientific experiments throughout the flight as a part of the UAE Astronaut Program.

Last year, the UAE made history with its unmanned Hope Probe to Mars by becoming the first Arab country and the fifth globally to reach the Red Planet. The mission has since discovered a new type of aurora on Mars, challenging scientists’ understanding of the planet, which was thought not to possess auroras at all. It is clear that the UAE is looking for possibilities to utilize advanced satellite communications, and use cutting-edge space technology on Earth. Therefore, the UAE established the National Space Fund which is an AED 3 billion fund from UAE Space Agency.

The fund will promote innovative initiatives that assist foreign and Emirati businesses in working together on applications in the engineering, sciences, and research fields related to space. A constellation of sophisticated remote sensing satellites using radar technologies will be the fund’s first project to be sent into orbit and will offer unmatched imaging capabilities.

This fund is crucial since it has made other projects possible and enabled economic diversification. A unifying factor among many of the Gulf Region’s nations is the transition away from an economy reliant on the production and sale of oil. In addition to the UAE, other nations like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait are currently investing billions of dollars in research and development to open up new businesses, which has gradually raised regional interest in space.

The UAE’s trajectory is one that is ambitious to expand its space sector which was made official In March 2019. This is when the UAE Government launched the National Space Strategy 2030, which sets the general framework for the UAE’s space industry and activities carried out by public and private sectors for the years leading up to 2030.

source/content: scoopempire.com

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pix: nasa.gov / NASA/Beth Weissinger

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