Day: April 22, 2024

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UAE’s AML/CTF Executive Office hosts FATF training workshop in Abu Dhabi


ABU DHABI: The UAE’s Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (EO AML/CTF) hosted a joint Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and MENAFATF workshop on FATF standards, delivered by the FATF Training Institute.

The FATF Standards Training Course was held over a full week in Abu Dhabi with 28 participants from among the MENAFATF’s 21 countries, representing the UAE, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco.

Commenting on event, Hamid AlZaabi, Director-General of the EO AML/CTF, drew attention to the critical role of training and building capacities in ensuring the effective implementation of FATF standards. He explained, ‘Financial crime is global in nature today, which means that to be successful in combatting it requires not only international cooperation but deep understanding of standards that prevents criminals from finding opportunities in the gaps between national AML/CFT systems.

‘The most important global set of standards are the FATF 40 Re
commendations for technical compliance and 11 Immediate Outcomes (IOs) for effectiveness ratings and professionals working for national AML/CFT organisations must have a high level of familiarisation with them.’

He added, “For this reason, I am delighted that the UAE is hosting this important FATF/MENAFATF workshop and would like to thank the expert trainers from the FATF Training Institute for being generous with their sharing of knowledge and best practices.

“In the UAE, we have successfully increased the number of Emiratis FATF-certified assessors five times in the last three years, which demonstrates our commitment to enhancing our national capabilities according to our wise leadership vision. The development of our human capital is among the Executive Office of AML/CTF priorities. I would like to thank our partners in FATF Training Institute and MENAFATF Secretariat.”

Suliman Al Jabrin, Executive Secretary of MENAFATF, added that knowledge exchange is an important feature of the regional body’s missio
n. He remarked, ‘The FATF Standards Training Course is a key date in the MENAFATF calendar because it brings together expert trainers with professionals from our member states with the shared goal of increasing compliance with the FATF standards. Over the years, the MENA region has made significant progress in detecting and preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism and there is no doubt that capacity building has been a major reason for this. I would like to thank the team from the FATF Training Institute for their efforts this week’.

Joëll Godard, Head of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Training Institute, delivered the welcome remarks and emphasised the importance of ongoing compliance. He commented, ‘Our focus on providing training on the FATF Standards to MENAFATF member states complements the FATF’s goal of promoting worldwide collaboration in combating financial crimes. This includes the MENA region, where it’s imperative to establish a network of proficient local professionals
within Middle Eastern jurisdictions. This ensures a continual improvement in compliance with FATF standards’.

The FATF Standards Training Course provided an overview of the FATF and the FATF standards, before featuring sessions on each of the 11 Immediate Outcomes (IOs).

The sessions included: Risk in context and understanding risk (IO1); Domestic coordination and information sharing (IO1); International cooperation (IO2); Preventative measures (IO3 and IO4); Risk-based supervision for Financial Institutions and Designated Non-Financial Professions and Businesses (IO3 and IO4); Beneficial Ownership (IO5); Financial Intelligence (IO6); Money Laundering Investigations (IO7); Asset Confiscation (IO8); Terrorism Financing investigations and prosecutions (IO9); Terrorism Financing and Non-Profit Organisations (IO10); Targeted Financial Sanctions Terrorism Financing (IO10); and Targeted Financial Sanctions Proliferation Financing (IO11).

Participants also took part in various interactive exercises requiring the
application of the standards covered during the sessions to assess real-world scenarios. It was conducted to measure the understanding of participants and how to apply technical compliance and effectiveness concepts in real life using a tailored case study. The agenda concluded with a presentation by the MENAFATF secretariat and the presentation of certificates.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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DGHR signs partnership agreement with OECD


DUBAI: The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) has signed a partnership agreement with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to host a series of webinars focusing on different strategies and opportunities for advancing economic growth and enhancing global trade.

As part of the agreement, the DGHR hosted a series of webinars to address various topics, such as ‘Using Analytics for Future Skills’, ‘Job Quality in the Future of Work’, ‘Capability-Building Practices in the Public Service’, and ‘Promoting Gender Balance in the Workforce and ‘Generative Artificial Intelligence and the world of work.’ In addition to highlighting the challenges that have affected the international trade system, the webinars also featured keynote speakers and experts from top economies who offered their insights on best practices.

Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al-Falasi, Director General of the DGHR, said, ‘We are thrilled to advance our collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD), and benefit from its knowledge and experiences of over six decades. The partnership comes as a step towards our goal of implementing international best practices to update policies pertaining to the empowerment of human resources, improve government performance, and enhance productivity, all of which will eventually boost Dubai’s competitiveness. The webinars by DGHR in this collaboration are highly significant as they provide insights from global experts while highlighting the economy and global trade, as well as the challenges and opportunities present. These webinars also address a wide range of topics that are of interest to the business community, which includes entrepreneurs, merchants, suppliers, investors, as well as SMEs.’

‘These discussions also offer a unique opportunity to share approaches for promoting inclusivity and balance in the workplace and discover strategies for creating a more diverse and sustainable economic landscape. To maximise institutional efficiency and en
sure that human development programmes are in sync with current trends, they also focus on improving policies related to human resource empowerment, making these programmes more compatible with the national goals,’ Al-Falasi added.

Iman Saleh Bin Khatam, Director of Policy and Programme Support at DGHR, inaugurated the webinar on ‘Promoting Gender Balance in the Workforce’, and during her opening remarks, she presented an overview of the UAE’s initiatives to advance gender balance and highlighted its impact on various workforce policies and regulations. The webinar also featured a series of panel discussions that delved into topics such as equal pay, non-discrimination, and career advancement opportunities.

Bin Khatam also highlighted the significance of webinars as influential platforms for analysing the current economic landscape, including its developments and challenges, and covered a range of subjects that are becoming increasingly important in the fields of international trade, business, and human res
ources. In addition, Bin Khatam explained how DGHR’s webinars have the potential to accelerate the adoption of best practices and methodologies for institutional operations and service delivery. She stated that it not only ensures gender balance through human resource policies and regulations but also explores the future features of work environments and job skills. Furthermore, she asserted that these sessions provide an opportunity to share constructive concepts and ideas on a wider scale as they are held in collaboration with the OECD.

During the webinar on ‘Promoting Gender Balance in the Workforce’, the OECD also presented a comprehensive overview of the gender policies implemented by its member states. These initiatives address a wide range of issues, including parental leave, childcare, flexible work arrangements, pay transparency, and non-discrimination legislation.

Moving forward, the DGHR intends to host additional webinars on several development and economic topics in close collaboration with the
OECD.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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DRIFTx showcasing advanced mobility technologies at Yas Marina Circuit


ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s first DRIFTx event will take place on 25th-26th April 2024 at Yas Marina Circuit. The event will showcase smart, autonomous, and sustainable urban mobility solutions in air, land, and sea.

It will feature local and international speakers and exhibitors, including flying taxis, driverless cars, and autonomous boats. Over 80 global mobility experts will participate in DRIFTx Talks sessions, discussing the latest transportation trends and innovations.

The event will have dedicated stages for air, land, and sea mobility, covering topics like AI and human collaboration, public perception of urban air mobility, advanced marine navigation systems, and sustainable electric and autonomous vehicles.

The speaker lineup includes Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of Space42, Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of Integrated T
ransport Centre, Badr Al Olama, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation, Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, Tian Yu, Founder and CEO of AutofFlight, Minsang Yu, Chief Strategy Officer of Autonomous A2Z, and Dr Paul Newman, CTO and President of OXA.

Nayef Shahin, Director of Innovation and Knowledge at Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said, ‘Abu Dhabi is a city of firsts, and the upcoming inaugural DRIFTx event is a testament to the emirate’s ongoing efforts in convening world leaders to tackle global opportunities and challenges. By fostering collaboration across academics, innovators, regulators, and startups, the event provides a unique platform that creates tangible partnerships and accelerates future mobility solutions. This also mirrors what we are doing at the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster in Abu Dhabi, propelling the UAE Capital’s status as a global hub for smart and autonomous vehicle a
nd mobility solutions.’

DRIFTx’s speaker lineup also includes George Zakhem, Director of Business Development and Partnerships of Emirates Driving Company, Shannon Miller, SVP of Jacobs, Billy Thalheimer, CEO of Regent Craft, Ali Dalloul, VP of Azure AI Platform of Microsoft, Francois Dossa, Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability of Jaguar Land Rover, Chuck Martin, Futurist, New York Times Best Selling Author and Head of Net Future Institute.

The event will also feature insights from officials from the UAE organisations including Abdulla Alashram, Group CEO of 7X, Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, Nayef Shahin, Director of Innovation and Knowledge at Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Dr Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Digital Cluster and CEO of Maqta Gateway at AD Ports Group.

DRIFTx will feature 75 global exhibitors, including Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Multi Level Group, Regent, Faraday Future, May Mobility, Space Falcon, and WeRide, which will be showcasing mobility innovations, liv
e demonstrations, VR simulations and more.

Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, said, ‘Since we announced our preliminary deal with ADIO at the SAVI event last fall, we have been working closely with our government and industry stakeholders in Abu Dhabi and across the emirates as we prepare to launch commercial air taxi service in the UAE as soon as next year. We’re proud to take part in DRIFTx as a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s world-leading commitment to fostering sustainable mobility innovation’

DRIFTx invites visitors to interact with mobility innovations, offering test-drives of autonomous vehicles like Fly Now eVOLT Model with VR glasses for simulated flying. Remote control demos by A2Z and Exail allow operating vehicles in distant locations. Attendees can experience live demos by industry leaders showcasing various cutting-edge vehicles. The event will host an electric vehicle exhibition and drone racing finale, with over 64 global teams competing. DRIFTx aims to bring together 2,000 attendees from the gl
obal mobility sector to shape the future of urban mobility through collaboration and networking opportunities.

Namir Hourani, Managing Director of GMOLx, said, ‘As we fast approach Abu Dhabi’s inaugural and one-of-a-kind DRIFTx event, we are proud to be associated with such a stellar speaker lineup and unique exhibition showcase and demos. We have been working closely with our partners, DMT, ADIO, SAVI, and Bayanat to curate a truly unique experience for industry leaders, innovators, startups, government bodies, regulators, and enthusiasts, thereby driving the adoption of smart and autonomous vehicles and the future of urban mobility forward in the region and beyond.’

In collaboration with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, Bayanat, and key local and international strategic partners, including 7X, Abu Dhabi Chamber, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Multi-level Group, Joby Aviation, Archer Aviat
ion, and Emirates Driving Company, DRIFTx emerges as the premier gathering for global thought leaders and innovators to explore, showcase, and demonstrate the latest in smart, autonomous, and sustainable mobility solutions from across the world.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Climate change creates a ‘cocktail’ of serious health hazards for 70 per cent of world’s workers, ILO report finds


GENEVA: A ‘staggering’ number of workers, amounting to more than 70 per cent of the global workforce, are likely to be exposed to climate-change-related health hazards, and existing occupational safety and health (OSH) protections are struggling to keep up with the resulting risks, according to a new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The report, Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate, says that climate change is already having a serious impact on the safety and health of workers in all regions of the world. The ILO estimates that more than 2.4 billion workers (out of a global workforce of 3.4 billion) are likely to be exposed to excessive heat at some point during their work, according to the most recent figures available (2020). When calculated as a share of the global workforce, the proportion has increased from 65.5 per cent to 70.9 per cent since 2000.

In addition, the report estimates that 18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years are lost annua
lly due to the 22.87 million occupational injuries, which are attributable to excessive heat. This is not to mention the 26.2 million people worldwide living with chronic kidney disease linked to workplace heat stress (2020 figures).

However, the impact of climate change on workers goes well beyond exposure to excessive heat, the report says, creating a ‘cocktail of hazards’, which result in a range of dangerous health conditions.

The report notes that numerous health conditions in workers have been linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, kidney disfunction and mental health conditions. The impact includes:

1.6 billion workers exposed to UV radiation, with more than 18,960 work-related deaths annually from nonmelanoma skin cancer.

1.6 billion likely to be exposed to workplace air pollution, resulting in up to 860,000 work-related deaths among outdoor workers annually.

Over 870 million workers in agriculture, likely to be exposed to pesticides, with more
than 300,000 deaths attributed to pesticide poisoning annually.

15,000 work-related deaths every year due to exposure to parasitic and vector-borne diseases.

‘It’s clear that climate change is already creating significant additional health hazards for workers,’ said Manal Azzi, OSH Team Lead at the ILO. ‘It is essential that we heed these warnings. Occupational safety and health considerations must be become part of our climate change responses – both policies and actions. Working in safe and healthy environments is recognized as one of the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work. We must deliver on that commitment in relation to climate change, just as in every other aspect of work.’

The report also explores current country responses, including revising or creating new legislation, regulations and guidance, and improving climate mitigation strategies – such as energy efficiency measures – in working environments.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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UAE affirms its categorical rejection of baseless allegations made by Permanent Representative of Sudan in letter to UNSC


ABU DHABI: Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, affirmed the UAE’s categorical rejection of the false allegations made by the Permanent Representative of Sudan, affirming that these claims are baseless.

Nusseibeh highlighted that the UAE submitted a letter to the UNSC on April 21st, through which the country stressed that the dissemination of disinformation and false narratives after a year of conflict aims to deflect responsibility and undermine international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

In this regard, the UAE stresses that it remains committed to continuing to engage with all stakeholders to support any process that aims to set Sudan on a political path to reach a lasting settlement and to achieve a national consensus for forming a civilian-led government.

The letter, sent by Mohamed Abushahab, UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, to Vanessa Frazier, President of the UNSC, consisted of the following:

‘On i
nstructions from my Government, I write to you in response to the allegations made by the Permanent Representative of the Sudan in the statement he delivered at the 9,611th meeting of the Security Council on 19 April 2024, under the agenda item ‘Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan’.

The United Arab Emirates unequivocally rejects the baseless allegations made by the Permanent Representative of the Sudan, which run counter to the longstanding brotherly relations between our two countries, and regrettably appear to be nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the conflict and the dire humanitarian situation caused by the ongoing fighting. All allegations of the United Arab Emirates’ involvement in any form of aggression or destabilisation in Sudan, or its provision of any military, logistical, financial or political support to any faction in Sudan, are spurious, unfounded, and lack any credible evidence to support them.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Sudan, the
United Arab Emirates has consistently expressed its firm belief that there can be no military solution to the conflict. We are therefore deeply concerned that the parties to the conflict have not heeded the repeated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and efforts to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue, including from the Security Council in resolution 2724 (2024).

Despite the numerous appeals from regional stakeholders and the broader international community, the conflict parties have continued to prolong hostilities, inflicting untold suffering and hardship upon the Sudanese people and threatening to destabilise the entire region.

In this context, the United Arab Emirates is also profoundly concerned about the dissemination of disinformation and false narratives, which undermine any efforts aimed at fostering a constructive dialogue that would ultimately pave the way for enduring peace.

On behalf of my government, I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm tha
t the United Arab Emirates respects and upholds principles of international law, including pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations. The United Arab Emirates respects the sovereignty of other states and refrains from any interference in their internal affairs. The United Arab Emirates is also committed to strict compliance with the resolutions of the Security Council and to cooperation with the Council and its subsidiary bodies.

Accordingly, the United Arab Emirates remains dedicated to supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. To that end, the United Arab Emirates will continue to engage with all stakeholders and support any process that aims to set Sudan on a political path to reach a lasting settlement and achieve a national consensus for forming a civilian-led government. The United Arab Emirates has actively engaged with the parties in Sudan and relevant stakeholders, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union (AU), and supported the talk
s in Jeddah and Manama. The UAE also participated in the ‘International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries’ recently held in Paris, and joined its Declaration of Principles in order to advance the peace initiatives for Sudan, and pledged US$100 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan and its neighbouring countries.

The United Arab Emirates firmly believes that dialogue is the only viable way to address grievances and forge a path towards a sustainable peace in Sudan and stresses the imperative for all parties to the conflict to demonstrate genuine commitment to engage in the peace talks in good faith. All parties in Sudan must focus on constructive engagement and meaningful dialogue rather than deflecting responsibility or undermining international efforts to address the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The current situation demands that all parties involved demonstrate a genuine commitment to achieving lasting peace and stability in Sudan.

The United Arab Emirat
es will continue to support all genuine efforts to bring about peace and stability in Sudan and remains committed to cooperating with all stakeholders towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.’

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Qatar’s Minister of Labour reviews historic achievements of Emiratisation in UAE private sector through Nafis programme


DUBAI: Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, received Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Minister of Labour of Qatar, who headed a delegation from the Qatari Ministry of Labour on a visit to the UAE.

During a meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries in the fields of human resources development and labour.

The Qatari delegation was briefed on best practices implemented in the UAE labour market, in the presence of Khalil Al Khoori, Undersecretary for Human Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE); Ayesha Belharfia, the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Emiratisation Affairs; Ghannam Al Mazrouei, Secretary General of the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council; Sheikha Najwa Al Thani, Assistant Undersecretary for Migrant Labour Affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Labour, and officials from both ministries.

The Qatari delegation reviewed the various initiatives of the Nafis programme, as well as the
range of legislation and decisions to support Emiratisation efforts in the private sector, and the unprecedented record results of enhancing Emirati professionals’ competitiveness in the labour market.

The meeting also highlighted processes and practices of UAE labour market monitoring, raising awareness, and inspection, in addition to the social protection system and the programme for protecting workers’ entitlements in the private sector.

The delegation also examined the procedures used for settling labour disputes in the UAE, in addition to the latest results of the continuous efforts to upgrade and develop the UAE labour market’s legislative ecosystem and elevate its attractiveness to both international talent and Emirati professionals.

Source: Emirates News Agency