The post Dubai World Cup – A message of peace and love from UAE to the world appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The emirate of Dubai has made revisions to travel protocols to reduce hassles for passengers and exempt citizens from additional procedures without compromising on COVID-19 precautionary measures to ensure the passenger safety.

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has directed changes to be made to the travel protocols for passengers arriving or departing from Dubai. Under these directives, the Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management in Dubai headed by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced a new set of travel protocols for Emiratis, residents, tourists and transit passengers travelling into and out of Dubai.

According to the revised protocols, Emiratis returning to Dubai from overseas are not required to do a PCR test prior to departure, regardless of the country they are coming from and the time spent there. They will only be required to conduct a PCR test on arrival in Dubai.

All residents and inbound tourists will have to undergo a PCR test before they depart for Dubai.
Transit passengers from certain countries are required to do a PCR test prior to departure for Dubai. The pre-travel test is also mandatory for transit passengers if their destination country requires them to do so.

Emiratis, residents and tourists travelling overseas from Dubai are required to undergo a PCR test prior to departure only if their destination country requires a pre-travel negative test certificate.

The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said the new travel protocols are part of a regular process of revising and optimising precautionary measures based on the latest local, regional and international developments.

The amended protocols are based on the recommendations of frontline entities combating the pandemic including the COVID-19 Command and Control Centre and the Dubai Health Authority, and a comprehensive assessment of the global situation. The protocols also address the travel guidelines and requirements of different countries.

The Committee stressed the importance of implementing precautionary measures and protocols in all Dubai travel ports according to the recommendations of local and global authorities to ensure the safety of passengers, flight crew and airport employees.

The post Dubai amends travel protocols appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, chaired a meeting of the Executive Council at The Expo Metro Station, to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Dubai Metro on September 9, and the launch of Dubai Metro Route 2020.

State news agency WAM reported that Sheikh Hamdan said the Dubai Metro was a quality addition to Dubai’s infrastructure, promoted its urban aspect and presented a model of meeting requirements of urban growth of the city. The metro project translated the vision of Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to cement Dubai as an international city and a hub for modern lifestyle, he said. Sheikh Hamdan also said that the metro was an artery for development, and highlighted the quality of life in cities.

“Eleven years ago, we launched Dubai Metro, which has been a witness to the distinctive development journey of the city,” Sheikh Hamdan said. He noted that the metro was a central piece of Dubai’s urban boom, and made Dubai a city on the move. “Dubai Metro also highlights Dubai’s strategy in facing challenges through proactive practical solutions,” he said.

“The inauguration of Route 2020 will lead Dubai towards a new phase of its journey, and reflects the leap it made in the transportation sector to keep pace with its future aspirations, as it is a model of sustainability and innovation for current and future generations. Our vision is clear and challenges won’t stop us from reaching our objectives,” the Dubai royal said.

During the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed about a number of projects and programmes, including the joint project between Dubai Municipality and Dubai Land.

The meeting also discussed the new academic year and the school reopening plan amid the pandemic, and the protocols in place to ensure safety and well-being of students and schools staff. The COVID-19 Command and Control Centre updated the meeting about the progress made in the fight against COVID-19, and public compliance with safety protocols.

The post Sheikh Hamdan chairs meeting at Expo Metro Station appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The Dubai Government has announced the launch of “Retire in Dubai”, a global retirement programme that offers resident expatriates and foreigners aged 55 and above the opportunity to enjoy the emirate’s distinctive lifestyle. The scheme announced by the Dubai Media Office came under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on September 2.

This is the first such scheme in the region, and is spearheaded by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) in collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai). The new initiative showcases Dubai as the world’s preferred retirement destination.

To ensure a competitive offering, Dubai Tourism has worked with its partners to develop key propositions for retirees covering healthcare, real estate, insurance and banking. Details of the offerings, designed to help retirees enjoy a happy and fulfilling life, and all information necessary to start the application process, are available on www.retireindubai.com.

Eligible applicants will be provided a Retirement Visa, renewable every five years. The retiree can choose between one of three financial requirements for eligibility: earning a monthly income of AED20,000 (approx. USD5,500); having savings of AED1 million (approx. USD275,000); or owning a property in Dubai worth AED2 million (approx.USD550,000).

In its initial phase, the programme will focus on UAE residents working in Dubai who have reached retirement age. The programme offers long-term residents of the city who are familiar with Dubai’s value proposition an easy and hassle-free retirement option. Dubai’s close proximity with the native countries of a large majority of residents makes it a convenient retirement destination for them.

Announcing the initiative, His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai Tourism, said the programme aims to enhance Dubai’s position as an iconic global city and make it the world’s most preferred lifestyle destination. Dubai’s Retirement Readiness strategy will enable expatriates and international retirees to take advantage of the city’s open-door policy, tolerance, and outstanding quality of life and live in one of the world’s fastest growing, culturally diverse cities, he pointed out.

“With the continued support of our stakeholders and partners including GDRFA-Dubai, the retirement programme will contribute towards our tourism economy by facilitating frequent visits from families and friends of the retirees and increasing visitation from markets with a high retiree population. This will also have the wider effect of promoting Dubai as a retiree-friendly destination while highlighting the city’s unparalleled lifestyle and diverse destination offerings and experiences,” he noted.

His Excellency Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, GDRFA Director-General, said that the retirement programme seeks to enhance the emirate’s position as a prominent destination on the global investment map. Dubai was recently ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and 11th globally among the top 20 most popular destinations for venture capital investments for 2020, which validates the strengths of Dubai’s investment environment and its success in creating new opportunities despite the challenges caused by the pandemic.

He said that the initiative will reinforce the emirate’s status as a preferred tourism and lifestyle hub as well as provide a unique lifestyle for retirees, which will help boost economic development in the country and enhance its global reputation as a business and investment centre.

What makes Dubai the ideal destination for retirees

The Retire in Dubai programme revolves around seven key factors that make Dubai the ideal destination for retirees:

Unique Lifestyle: Home to over 200 nationalities, Dubai is a cosmopolitan destination that unites cultures, beliefs, and values under the banner of tolerance and diversity. Although Arabic is the official language, Dubai is a multilingual city where English is the most widely spoken language. Dubai Tourism, in collaboration with its real estate partners Dubai Holding, Meraas and Emaar, and Emirates NBD, has put together banking options that will enable retirees to own a property that fits their lifestyle. The options will be available only to holders of the Retirement Visa.

Convenience: Dubai provides its residents with a comfortable and hassle-free lifestyle, with conveniences ranging from home services to food delivery. It’s a city of affordable luxury where retirees can choose the quality of life they desire.

Recreation: One of the world’s most popular leisure and shopping destinations, living in Dubai will enable retirees to take care of all their needs, whether it’s rest, relaxation or recreation. As the gastronomic capital of the region, Dubai offers a range of culinary experiences catering to all appetites, cultures and budgets. Residents can choose from thousands of cafés, food trucks and restaurants that reflect the exotic cuisines of its resident nationalities, whether it is dished out by Michelin-starred chefs or street vendors. Dubai also provides a diverse and world-class spa offering in a variety of settings whether it’s the beach, the city or desert resorts. For connoisseurs of art and culture, Dubai provides many ways to discover its history and heritage and be part of a vibrant creative community of artists, as well as the opportunity to attend a plethora of festivals and events throughout the year.

An active and fit society: Retirees in Dubai have access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle, with a wide range of fitness options, whether it is strolling or jogging along sandy beaches, relaxing in beautiful gardens or hiking in mountainous Hatta near the Oman border. An active citywide fitness movement driven by the Dubai Fitness Challenge reflects the city’s collective spirit and strong sense of community.

Proximity & connectivity: Combined with its ideal geographical location midway between the West and the East, Dubai’s highly-connected infrastructure – both technological and physical – makes it easy for retirees to connect with and visit friends and family from all over the world. Dubai International (DXB) is one of the busiest airports in the world and connects more than 240 destinations through 140 airlines. With the addition of its second airport Dubai World Central (DWC), connectivity has become one of Dubai’s most compelling advantages. The two home-grown airlines Emirates and flydubai, and over 100 other regular and low-cost airlines to choose from, makes Dubai one of the top cities in the world when it comes to airline connectivity. Moreover, it is perfectly positioned as a gateway to the globe, helping you travel to anywhere in Europe, Asia, and Africa in under eight hours.

World-class healthcare system: Dubai provides the highest quality of healthcare across a range of specialisations. Following the pandemic, Dubai’s robust healthcare system has been further strengthened in line with the highest international benchmarks and best practices. The city continues to be one of the world’s safest destinations. Furthermore, Dubai Tourism has developed price-competitive insurance packages for retirees in cooperation with leading companies in the sector.

Legacy Management: To ensure that retirees can have their affairs planned for and protected, the DIFC Wills Service Centre has developed enhanced wills drafting, registration and probate services at exclusive competitive rates. The services will help retirees enjoy their lives in Dubai confident that their assets are safe and can be passed on to their loved ones.

The post Dubai beckons over-55s for retired life appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

One month after its historic lift-off from Japan, the Hope Probe, the Arab world’s first mission to another planet, has travelled one fifth of its journey to Mars.

This was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who shared two images from Hope Probe’s star-tracking camera and tweeted, “The Hope Probe is officially 100 million km into its journey to the Red Planet. Mars, as demonstrated in the image captured by the Probe’s Star Tracker, is ahead of us, leaving Saturn and Jupiter behind. The Hope Probe is expected to arrive to Mars in February 2021.”

“In less than 170 days, we will celebrate the probe’s entry into the Red Planet’s orbit. It will be a path-breaking achievement in the history of global Mars missions.”

He noted, “The Emirates Mars Mission will create a giant leap in the country’s space technologies and open new horizons towards other space missions. The next phase requires investments in science for the benefit of mankind. We need young people to lead us towards further scientific breakthroughs.”

The Hope Probe has so far travelled 20 per cent of its 493-million-km journey to Mars since its successful lift-off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on July 20, 2020.

The 100-million-km milestone comes after the probe’s successful completion of its first trajectory correction manoeuvre (TCM) that marked the firing of its six Delta-V thrusters. The probe will perform many more TCMs to reach its scheduled Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI) in less than 170 days in February 2021, coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Currently travelling at a speed ranging between 110,400 km/h to 122,400km/h, the Hope Probe has already travelled fifth of its journey, equivalent to 130 trips from the Earth to the moon. The probe will automatically reduce its speed to 18,000 km/h as it gets closer to Mars.

This phase of the probe’s journey marks the testing of the three advanced science instruments mounted on the probe that work simultaneously to capture complete data from Mars. The first is an infrared spectrometer to measure the lower atmosphere and analyse the temperature structure. The second is a high-resolution exploration imager that will provide information about ozone levels and depth of water ice in the atmosphere, while the third, an ultraviolet spectrometre, is set to measure oxygen and hydrogen levels.

The Hope Probe will provide the first truly global picture of the Martian atmosphere as it orbits the Red Planet throughout one full Martian year of 687 days.

Once it enters the Red Planet’s orbit, the Probe will send back more than 1,000 gigabytes of new Mars data to be shared with over 200 research centres for free across the world. The mission’s wider objective involves inspiring youth across the world to pursue science-based fields. So far, the mission has attracted 60,000 students to join its diverse educational programmes, developed 200 new technologies and helped publish 51 research papers and build 66 parts of the probe in the UAE.

The post Hope Probe reaches 100-million-km milestone appeared first on The Gulf Indians.