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R&D-
The UAE is getting a centralized resource portal to coordinate research efforts with government agencies, higher education institutes, research organizations, and industry partners, courtesy of a new partnership between Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the Education Ministry, and the Emirates Research and Development Council, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
About the tool: The tool, dubbed the UAE Research Map, provides comprehensive information on R&D activities, funding windows, training programs, expert networking, and career windows. It seeks to spotlight UAE-based publications, researchers, and R&D centers, allowing users to post their R&D windows on the platform.
More to come: ATRC plans to upgrade the portal with an up-to-date publications section, an expert finder, and a fortified commercialization section to facilitate the transfer of ideas from lab to market.
ENERGY-
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) subsidiary Etihad Energy Services Company plans to establish a Super Energy Services Company (ESCO) in Bahrain, after signing an agreement with Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority to help implement Bahrain’s Kafa’a Program, according to a Dubai Media Office statement. The Kafa’a program aims to decrease electricity usage in buildings with high consumption levels, across both public and private sectors, through collaboration with ESCOs.
HERITAGE-
Dubai’s executive council has approved the second phase of a project to preserve Dubai’s architectural heritage, state news agency Wam reports. This phase will focus on preserving 35 areas and buildings dating between the 1960s and 1990s, with the first phase focusing on older neighborhoods.
PORTS-
Dubai port operator DP World has completed the expansion of Dubai’s Mina Al Hamriya port, according to a Friday statement. The expansion project — launched in 2022 — looked to enhance the port’s capacity, attract new business, and boost trade between Dubai and other emirates.
The details: The upgrades included the construction of an additional 1,150 meters of quay wall, as well as adding five berths, bringing the total to 14. The improvements also included dredging work that deepened the port’s draft to 8.5 meters, allowing it to accommodate larger vessels and higher volumes of cargo, boosting throughput. The expansion also boosted storage capacity to 403k sqm.
BANKING-
CBUAE links up with Indonesia: Governor of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) Khaled Mohamed Balama inked an MoU with his Indonesian counterpart, Perry Warjiyo, to promote the use of local currencies for bilateral transactions, according to a statement (pdf). It includes a framework for cross-border trade transactions in AED and IDR that outlines eligible transactions and paves the way for hedging and liquidity management activities in both currencies.
Fast fact: Non-oil trade between the UAE and Indonesia doubled between 2017 and 2023 to over AED 16 bn.
HEALTHCARE-
AI to detect Legionella in Dubai: The Dubai Central Laboratory has rolled out AI technology to detect Legionella pulmonary bacteria, a cause of acute respiratory infections, making it the first in the region to do so, reports Wam. The AI method identifies live colonies of Legionella bacteria and quantifies bacterial counts with a 99% accuracy rate, and is accredited globally by the European Water Testing Network. It has slashed processing time for results to 48 hours from traditional 14-day methods.
AVIATION-
Emirates to resume flights to Edinburgh: Emirates will reinstate its daily Edinburgh service effective 4 November, Wam reports. Following the reinstatement, Emirates will operate 14 weekly flights between Scotland, including its current A380 daily flight to Glasgow.
REAL ESTATE-
Al Reem Island gets first branded residence: Ohana Development has launched its Elie Saab Waterfront on Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island, according to a press release. The 39-floor residential tower is the first branded residence to be set up on the island. It offers 174 apartments ranging from AED 2-45 mn, with the project’s first phase already sold out.
