Asad Ali's Blogs

   The FIFA World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Netherlands was a very exciting match Argentina scored the opening goal early in the game However Netherlands played very well and scored two goals to take the lead.  In the second half Argentina pushed hard and managed to equalize late in the game This made the score 2-2 and sent the match into extra time Both teams tried their best in extra time but no one was able to score.  This meant a penalty shootout was needed to decide the winner Penalty shootouts are always very stressful for both teams In the shootout Argentina scored all their penalties while the Netherlands missed one This allowed Argentina to win the shootout and advance to the semifinals. It was a great game that had fans on the edge of their seats the whole time While Netherlands played well Argentina showed their fighting spirit by coming from behind to equalize late and then winning in penalties Their win sets up an exciting semifinal clash ag...

  A group from the UAE government met withimportant people at the OECD The OECD helps countries work togetheron economic and other issues They talked at the OECD headquarters in Paris France. They discussed how the UAE and OECD can do more together in the future The vice head of the OECD Ulrike Knudsen was there They also talked aboutthe UAE becomingpart of the OECD.  The OECD helps its members improve their economies and standards of living The UAE wants to learn from them Joining also lets more countries trade and invest with each other following similar rules. Both sides seemed positive about cooperation The meeting showed the commitmentof the UAE to working with global groups Being an OECD member can open opportunities for the UAE economyand companies worldwidep Talks will continue on areas of shared interest.

  The United Arab Emirates has pledged significant support to help the people of Sudan during this difficult time of war and crisis In recent agreements finalized by the UAE government $28 million will be provided to humanitarian organizations working in Sudan and nearby countries.  This funding from the UAE will be delivered to the United Nations and other aid agencies $20 million will help groups provide shelter healthcare to and basic services for thousands of Sudanese refugees and internally displaced people Another $8 million was promised to the World Health Organization to assist their operations and improve health conditions This support will help many vulnerable families access important relief supplies. In addition, the UAE signed agreements to allocate $25 million more for emergency food assistance This will benefit farmers herders refugees and local communities facing hunger in both Sudan and South Sudan The nation has also established field hospitals to treat Sudan...

  Many shops in UAE are offering big discounts on phones and computers before new models with artificial intelligence come out Popular brands like Apple Samsung Dell and HP have reduced their prices by 30% to 50% This makes them much cheaper than before.  The new phones and computers will understand voice commands better and be more helpful. But they will also cost more money So retailers want to sell existing items quickly Customers can now buy the latest phones from this year at 10 to 20% lower prices Laptop computers from big brands are half price in some stores This has not happened for a few years. The new artificial intelligence devices will be launched after summer vacation starts Most students and families will buy gadgets for online classes then So shops want to keep old stock empty New phones laptops and tablets will understand language well and give faster answers with the help of AI. They will be helpful for study and work Though initial AI models will expensive cu...

  The United Arab Emirates has announced an ambitious plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 Known as the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative it aims to make the UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa region to reach this important climate goal The announcement demonstrates the UAE strong leadership in promoting renewable energy and sustainable development both domestically and globally.  The net zero initiative was launched at Expo 2020 Dubai with the attendance of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi It seeks to balance environmental protection with continued economic growth over the next three decades Several government entities will work collaboratively to update policies and implement new clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors. Adopting renewable technologies on a mass scale will help lower carbon footprint while creating new jobs in the green economy. The UAE has already invested over US$40 billion in cl...

  The UAE introduced a new corporate tax law last year Now many companies must pay tax and follow tax rules This can be difficult for business owners who are unfamiliar with taxes people who help companies like accountants should make sure businesses know important tax dates.  Accountants and bookkeepers work with many companies They should kindly remind companies about registering for tax by certain deadlines They should also mention reporting that companies must do each year If companies miss these dates they could face penalties Support workers want businesses to succeed so reminding them is helpful. Other professionals like those who give out business licenses can also provide reminders They could tell new companies to register for tax within three months Trade license organizations may require yearly audits done by specific accountants on their approved lists This means companies using different license places may need multiple auditors That adds complexity. As the second...

  Many reports show that the United Arab Emirates is the most popular country for rich people to move to Over 6700 millionaires will go to the UAE by the end of 2024 This makes the UAE the number one choice for millionaires for the past 3 years. There is no tax on income in the UAE which millionaires enjoy Living in the UAE also means a very nice lifestyle with beautiful houses shopping malls and other good facilities The government gives long permits to live in the UAE if people purchase property or invest money Millionaires also prefer the UAE because it is politically stable and business friendly. The increasing number of millionaires choosing the UAE shows how important stability and business opportunities are Nations like the UAE have been very successful in getting and keeping rich residents by offering things like no taxes and residency programs This makes the UAE a top destination for millionaires.

  The United Arab Emirates is poised to retain its position as the world leading destination for millionaires in 2024 according to a recent report by Henley Private Wealth Migration. The tiny Gulf nation is expected to see a remarkable net inflow of 6700 millionaires, far outpacing the United States which ranks second with an expected inflow of 3800 millionaires. The report highlights that a record breaking 128000 millionaires or high net-worth individuals with liquid investable wealth of $1 million or more, are expected to relocate globally in 2024 surpassing the previous record set in 2023. This trend is seen as a significant shift in the global landscape of wealth and power with the UAE emerging as a prime destination for those seeking a safe haven for their assets and family interests. The UAE appeal as a wealth magnet is largely attributed to its favorable tax policies, strategic location, world class infrastructure, and the introduction of the golden visa program, which aims ...

Shehbaz Sharif recently spoke on phone with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The leaders exchanged Eid greetings and prayed for progress of both nations. The PM thanked UAE for consistent support to Pakistan and reiterated his country's backing to brotherly UAE.  Recalling his fruitful visit to UAE last month PM Shehbaz underscored Pakistan's commitment to elevate ties into a strategic partnership. He emphasized boosting trade and investment ties between the two nations. High-level exchanges are significant in further cementing the brotherly relationship. In response the UAE President graciously accepted PM invitation to undertake an official visit to Pakistan. Such visits will open new avenues of cooperation across diverse sectors like energy infrastructure and tourism. People to people contacts will also strengthen with increased interactions. Taking Relations Forward Both leaders agreed to remain engaged to realize their shared vision of advancing the close ...

  The UAE has done well in the IMD World Competitiveness rankings for 2024 It has moved up three places from last year to reach the 7th position globally. This ranking looks at how competitive different countries are based on factors like their economy, government and business environment. The UAE was top 10 in over 90 indicators related to competiveness. The UAE performed particularly strong in areas of economic performance where it came second in the world It also did very well in terms of how efficient its government is and business activity levels. The country ranked first for certain factors like tourism income employment rates and people spending money. It showed strength in adapting policies quickly and having less bureaucratic red tape.  Leaders in the UAE have praised the efforts of various teams working hard across sectors Their collaborative efforts have helped the country progress annually in these global rankings. The UAE infrastructure business friendly rules and...

  A new report by Henley Private Wealth says the United Arab Emirates will be the top country for rich people to move to in 2024. The UAE is expected to get 6,700 millionaires by the end of the year. That means people with more than $1 million to invest. No other country will see as many wealthy immigrants according to the report. The United States comes in second place It may welcome 3800 millionaires this year. Meanwhile China is predicted to have the biggest number of rich people leave. Around 15200 millionaires may move out of China in 2024. Many millionaires also often leave countries like the UK, India, and South Korea according to the research.  The UAE does many things to attract wealthy individuals It has a favorable tax system and offers long term visas for those who invest a lot of money. The country also has good infrastructure and facilities. Its location in the Middle East is also strategic. More millionaires are starting to see the UAE as a safe place to live wi...

  UAE based airlines Emirates Etihad Airways and flydubai have announced new flight routes connecting the UAE to over 40 cities around the world. This will provide passengers with more options to travel internationally from UAE airports.  Emirates Airline, the largest airline in the UAE will operate flights to 25 new destinations in countries like China India Russia South Africa and Saudi Arabia. This includes flights from Dubai to cities like Beijing, Delhi Moscow Cape Town and Riyadh which were not connected to UAE before. Etihad Airways will fly passengers from Abu Dhabi to 8 new locations like Luanda Sofia Almaty and Aqaba.  Low-cost airline flydubai is expanding its network rapidly It will start operations from Dubai to 12 new cities located in regions like Europe, Asia and Africa. Underserved destinations like Odesa, Kyiv, Malta and Moroni can now be easier reached from Dubai on flydubai. This offers more choice and competition on international routes from UAE. The ...

The UAE President participation in a session on artificial intelligence and energy at the G7 Summit in Italy Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke about challenges facing the Middle East and Africa in the energy sector He emphasized the need for collective global action and leveraging emerging technologies like AI to develop sustainable solutions. At the summit Sheikh Mohamed talked about the UAE efforts to establish a robust system for governing and promoting AI development. This includes legislation programs and partnerships aimed at applying AI in ways that boost energy security sustainability and balanced industry transitions. He hopes cooperation on responsible technology use can help rather than harm development and prosperity.   UAE as a major energy producer and AI investor the nation sees opportunities for these fields to support each other. It discusses the UAE track record of successful consensus building on important issues. Sheikh Mohamed participation in the h...

  The UAE has shown its commitment to helping the people of Gaza through another aid shipment It recently sent 90 tonnes of urgent relief supplies to Al Arish in Egypt from where it will be transported into Gaza. This included 450 tents as well as food parcels and dates to provide shelter and meet basic needs.  This is part of the UAE extensive aid operation called  Gallant Knight 3  So far over 30000 tonnes of food medicine and shelter equipment has been delivered through hundreds of cargo flights and ships. The supplies have been a lifeline for Gaza residents facing hardship. Recognizing this need the UAE launched the large scale relief mission to assist Palestinians. The latest aid delivery was the 238th flight to Al Arish as part of this effort From there the supplies will be transported by over a thousand trucks into Gaza. The UAE has pledged staunch support for Palestinians over many decades through such humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. This highligh...

  Dubai has launched an ambitious program to train one million people in artificial intelligence. Called the One Million Prompters initiative it aims to develop skills in prompt engineering over the next three years. Prompt engineering involves crafting instructions for AI systems to achieve desired outcomes.   The program was announced by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum His goal is for Dubai to be a global leader in emerging technologies like AI. The United Arab Emirates also wants 40% of its economy to be powered by AI by 2031. So both Dubai and UAE see prompt engineering skills as crucial for their future workforce. The initiative is supervised by Omar Al Olama UAE  Minister for AI and Digital EconomyHe highlighted how prompt skills will be important for jobs and improving lives with AI. Dubai is partnering with major tech companies like Microsoft  Google and IBM to train people through workshops. It also hosts an annual competition c...

  The United Arab Emirates believes that resolving the conflict between Israel and Palestine requires a comprehensive strategy  The UAE Foreign Ministry stated that the current situation has led to a humanitarian crisis and suffering for the Palestinian people. There needs to be a plan that addresses the root issues and ends the cycle of violence.  Any solution must focus on ending the hardships faced by Palestinians It is also important to ensure security and stability for all people in the region on a long term basis Past discussions have not been able to find a lasting resolution. The UAE thinks a new approach is needed that takes into account political  economic and social factors. Only a strategy that considers all dimensions will enable true peace for both sides. Building trust and confidence between Israelis and Palestinians is key to making progress The UAE remains committed to supporting efforts for a negotiated two state solution. This protects the national...

  The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg to discuss relations between their countries. This took place during a visit by the UAE minister to Austria. They talked about ways to improve cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Austria.  Both ministers said they want the partnership between the two nations to grow stronger. The UAE and Austria already have good ties and work together in many areas like trade and investment. During their meeting, they discussed new opportunities where the countries can support each other more. This includes collaborating in fields like technology, energy climate change and other priorities. The UAE sees Austria as an important partner in Europe. There is potential to increase business alliances that benefit both economies. Cultural and educational exchanges can also help bring the people of the UAE and Austria closer. Regional issues in ...

  The United Arab Emirates government has approved more funding to help citizens with housing needs. At a meeting led by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Cabinet agreed to provide over 2100 Emirati families with financial support for housing.  In total 1.6 billion AED roughly 457 million USD will go towards assisting citizens. This money will be distributed in a few different ways. Some will go towards fulfilling existing requests for housing grants through the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program. Some will offer new loans through banks to help families buy homes. And some funds will help construct government housing.  By supporting various housing options the goal is to ensure every UAE national has suitable and affordable housing. The additional approvals coincide with the upcoming Eid al Azha holiday period. Providing this aid now will help enhance social stability for families during the festive season.  The Cabinet's decision also approved launching a...

  The foreign ministers of several Middle Eastern countries recently attended a meeting of the BRICS bloc in Russia This included the foreign ministers of Iran Egypt Turkey and the UAE. The UAE had joined BRICS earlier this year along with other new members like Iran and Egypt. At the meeting, the UAE foreign minister expressed that BRICS membership would enhance economic integration and provide opportunities in sectors like tourism energy and infrastructure. Many countries discussed current events in bilateral meetings Iran and Egypt foreign ministers met with their Russian counterpart and discussed regional issues such as the Gaza war. Turkey foreign minister also spoke with Russian officials about conflicts in Gaza Syria and the Caucasus. Additionally the UAE reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation within BRICS to further joint goals.   Members expressed support for promoting trade using national currencies instead of the US dollar to circumvent sanctions. B...

  The Gulf countries are looking at economic growth in the coming years. According to reports, the GCC or Gulf Cooperation Council region which includes countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc will see better economic performance in 2024 and 2025.  The main reason for improved economy is higher oil production. As demand for oil increases globally after the pandemic years, the Gulf countries will produce more oil. This will help revenues and GDP growth. Besides oil, the non-oil sectors of these countries are also growing steadily in areas like tourism, real estate, transportation etc. The diversification of economy is reducing dependence on oil and supporting stable growth.  Among GCC nations, UAE and Saudi Arabia will be the front runners in economic rebound. For UAE, reports forecast GDP growth of 3.9% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2025. The growth will be led by rising oil output and strong non-oil sectors. Saudi Arabia is seen growing 2.5% in 2024 and 5.9% in 2025, mainly ba...

  Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the Haqqani Network in Afghanistan, is one of the United States' most wanted terrorists. However, he recently took a trip to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with no issues. The Haqqani Network is blamed for killing thousands, including many Americans. So why was Haqqani allowed to travel when he has a $10 million bounty on his head from the FBI? It seems the UAE and Saudi Arabia did not stop Haqqani from entering their countries. He met with leaders in the UAE and then went to Saudi Arabia to take part in an Islamic religious pilgrimage. The Biden administration could have pressured these countries not to let Haqqani visit since he is on the UN terrorism list. But the US was quiet about his travels. Now some experts worry this signals that the international community may soon recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan.  Haqqani is more than just a Taliban leader - he has close ties to al Qaeda terrorists as well. Allowing him to...

  The United Arab Emirates uses different methods to reduce democracy in many countries. It spies on activists and journalists who criticise the UAE government. The UAE hacks into people's phones and emails secretly. This violates people's privacy and rights. It also makes democracy weaker as people cannot speak freely against the government.  The UAE also keeps foreign citizens in its prisons for a long time even when they did not do anything wrong. They face bad conditions in jail. The UAE does not respect rules of law. It arrests people without showing proof of wrongdoing. Even the UN said some prisoners should be released. But the UAE does not listen. This scares people who want to do business there. The UAE tries to increase its power in international organizations too. It gets its former officials positions of power. This is an attempt to reduce international scrutiny of its human rights violations. The UAE also smears other organizations that speak against its abuses. I...

  The United Arab Emirates economy is projected to see strong growth in 2025 According to a report by BMI pa global research firm, the UAE economic growth will jump to 6.7% in the year 2025 This would be a big increase from the growth rate of 3.8% expected for 2024.  The BMI report cited several reasons for its optimism about the UAE economic outlook One key factor is the country efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil Over the years the UAE has built up strong non oil sectors like tourism financial services real estate and transport  It also has trade ties with neighboring countries like Iran  These various aspects of the economy help boost growth.  Another positive is that oil prices are expected to remain reasonably high over the next couple of years This provides support to the oil sector and also fills government coffers. Some of this revenue can be invested in development projects. Additionally as a regional trading and business hub, the UAE benefits f...

  The United Arab Emirates is actively working to build infrastructure and implement policies for future transportation needs. Major changes are happening in how people and goods move across countries. The government knows that transportation will look very different in upcoming years.  The UAE has a plan called the National Smart Mobility Strategy. The goal is for the UAE to be a global leader in smart transportation by 2030. Smart transportation uses new technologies like electric vehicles and car sharing apps. The government is investing money to update roads, transportation systems, and rules to support these technologies. More charging stations are being installed to support electric vehicles. New partnerships are creating more options. Electric vehicles are becoming much more common on UAE roads. While still only a small part, electric vehicles will likely increase a lot over time. Support includes initiatives to expand charging locations. Alternative fuels are also bein...

  Korean construction companies are paying more attention to a large environmentally friendly city project in the United Arab Emirates The project is called Masdar City. It aims to be one of the world's first zero carbon, zero waste, and car-free cities that uses only renewable energy.  Masdar City has a total budget of 28 trillion won to build. It is the largest development currently taking place in the UAE. The presidents of Korea and UAE discussed more cooperation during their recent meeting. Korean companies believe this could lead to more construction orders from the UAE. Many Korean builders already have experience working on projects in the UAE. Large companies like Samsung and SK group are involved in various infrastructure developments. This means they have local knowledge and connections that may help win new contracts. The Korean government is also trying to support companies with opportunities in Masdar City and other projects in areas like hydrogen and renewable e...

  The Director General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently visited Saudi Arabia. During the visit he met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health, Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al Jalajel. The meeting took place in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia.  In the meeting, they discussed various areas of health cooperation between WHO and Saudi Arabia. Key topics included strengthening public health systems, controlling disease outbreaks, and increasing access to universal healthcare. Saudi Arabia aims to provide health security and quality medical services to all its citizens and residents. Both sides emphasized the need to work jointly on global health priorities. This includes responding effectively to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as preparing for future health emergencies. They also discussed collaboration on diseases like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular illnesses which are major causes of mortality worldwide.   Dr Tedros praise...

  Qatar and the United Arab Emirates want peace in Gaza. The leaders of the two countries met on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. They talked about President Biden's plan to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.  Biden has a three part plan. In the first part, Israel and Hamas agree to stop fighting for six weeks. Israel would leave populated areas in Gaza. Hamas would release women, elderly, and hurt prisoners to Israel. In return, Israel would free Palestinians in its jails.  The second part is rebuilding Gaza. In the third part, Hamas returns any prisoners that died in captivity. While Hamas likes the plan, Israel says it will only stop fighting when Hamas is gone and all prisoners are released. Egypt, Qatar, and the US are talking to Hamas, Israel, and others to agree to Biden's plan. The UAE and Qatar foreign ministers support peace efforts. They called on all sides to seriously look at Biden plan. They said it could help Gazans and release p...

  The COP28 presidency has launched the Technical Cooperation Collaborative (TCC) to support the implementation of the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture and Resilient Food Systems. The TCC aims to provide technical help to countries on adapting agriculture and food systems to tackle climate change. It was first announced during the COP28 summit in the UAE last year. The launch of the TCC marks an important step forward for the COP28 declaration. The TCC brings together various partners who can offer their expertise to countries. This includes groups like the World Bank, FAO, IFAD and others. Their goal is to help deliver on the objectives in the COP28 declaration, such as updating climate action plans to include food and agriculture. The launch event took place at the recent Bonn climate conference in Germany. This started the process of assisting countries to achieve what was agreed in the UAE declaration.   Since COP28, 159 countries have endorsed the dec...

  The transcript is an interview with an expert on China-UAE relations discussing how ties between the two countries have evolved beyond just trade.  According to the expert, bilateral relations were initially centered around trade and economic cooperation with trade volumes growing significantly over the past decade.  However the scope of cooperation has now expanded into many other areas like investment, technology infrastructure, energy, space and more.  Major Chinese companies have been investing heavily in key sectors in the UAE like construction, telecoms, ports and renewable energy. This includes investments from state giants like CCCC and Huawei. The UAE has also been an important destination for China's Belt and Road Initiative in the Middle East region. Several major BRI linked projects are underway in the country.  Both sides have also seen increased cooperation in emerging technologies. Several Chinese tech firms now have regional headquarters or inn...