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TRANSPORT-
First UAE vertiport gets green light: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) granted operational approval for the country’s inaugural vertiport, reports Wam. The vertiport debuted on the sidelines of the DRIFTx event in Abu Dhabi.
Fast facts: The GCAA published the world’s first national regulation related to vertiports — covering their design and operational requirements — back in December 2022. The authority has since announced a plan to launch air taxis by 1Q 2026.
ALSO- Archer is moving forward with its air taxi plans: California-based electric flying car manufacturer Archer Aviation also signed a framework agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to construct vertiports in Abu Dhabi, according to an Abu Dhabi Media Office statement. The framework agreement also includes “operational enablement” for air taxis in the country, as well as locally manufacturing Archer’s Midnight aircraft. Abu Dhabi-headquartered aviation services provider Falcon Aviation had earlier inked an agreement with Archer to develop a vertiport network in key locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi by 2025.
…as is Joby Aviation, which inked an MoU with Abu Dhabi’s department of municipalities and transport to lay the groundwork for it to introduce inter-emirate electric air tax services as early as 2025, Wam reports. The air taxi manufacturer already holds a license to operate in Dubai for six years.
REAL ESTATE-
Samana launches new Dubai project: Dubai-based real estate firm Samana Developers inaugurated its AED 272.2 mn development in Dubai Production City, the Samana Lake Views Project, according to a press release. The development comprises two towers, offering some 1k apartments across 794k sqft. It is slated for handover in October 2027, with prices starting from USD 178k.
Background: Samana said in March it plans to build residential projects in the emirate at a cost of AED 12.5 bn over 2024. The company will award 18 construction contracts to construction firms to build the residential projects, most of which are waterfront developments. It expects to rake in some AED 8.8 bn in sales in 2024 after recording AED 3.3 bn in sales last year.
TECH-
The central bank (CBUAE) has partnered with American IT company Accenture to ramp up its Supervisory Technology (SupTech) initiative and Enterprise Data Management (EDM) program, focusing on licencing, supervising, and enforcing digital solutions over the next two years, it said in a statement. SupTech seeks to automate and streamline supervisory activities for banks and licensed financial institutions, while EDM provides advanced analytics, automation, and AI-driven decision-making via a single portal.
HEALTHCARE-
Abu Dhabi backs disease prevention: Reaching the Last Mile, a global health portfolio backed by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has invested AED 55 mn in the Global Institute for Disease Elimination, which was established in 2019 by the president to accelerate the elimination of preventable infectious diseases, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. This marks the portfolio’s second investment in the institute.
EDUCATION-
#1-Sharjah gets a new university: Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi issued a decree establishing a new nonprofit scientific university, the University of Dhaid, with registration and admission set to begin in the 2024-25 academic year, Wam reports. The university will specialize in agriculture, environment, food, and livestock, with several facilities, centers, and projects set to be constructed. Sheikh Sultan — who will be the new university’s president — also issued a decree forming the university’s board of trustees, in addition to appointing Aisha Ahmad Abu Shlaibi as the University of Dhaid’s chancellor.
#2-The King Sejong Institute — a foundation aiming to spread knowledge of the Korean language — has inaugurated its MENA HQ in Sharjah, Gulf News reports. The South Korean government-run institute’s initial courses will begin before July, and will be taught at Sharjah University.
