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SPACE-
NASA + UAE to orbit the moon: The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) inked an agreement with NASA yesterday to launch Gateway, the first space station to orbit the moon, according to a statement on NASA’s website. Under the agreement, MBRSC will provide Gateway’s airlock module, engineering support, and an Emirati astronaut who will fly to the space station on a future Artemis lunar mission.
SOUND SMART-An airlock is a device with two interlocked compartments that permits passage between regions of differing air pressures. In this case, it will primarily be used to exit, enter, and transfer materials to and from the Gateway space station.
ENERGY-
State-owned Dragon Oil plans to develop three new offshore oil fields in Turkmenistan, with the company signing an MoU with Turkmenistan’s national oil company, Turkmennebit, according to a press release. The company plans to develop three new offshore oil fields within Block 19, near the Cheleken Contract Area, where Dragon Oil operates a concession, “with the aim of raising and increasing production in the near future,” CEO Ali Al Jarwan said. The next step involves drilling of two to three appraisal wells, followed by development and exploration of the new field, targeting the production of crude oil, he said.
LOGISTICS-
Ford Middle East and DB Schenker have started construction on a new parts distribution hub at Dubai World Central, according to a press release. The new facility — dubbed the DB Schenker-Ford Parts Distribution Center (PDC) — spans over an area of 42k square meters and is set to become operational in January 2025. The distribution center will serve as a consolidated storage and distribution site, slated to enhance the availability of parts, inventory management and customer service.
REAL ESTATE-
Islamic bank Ajman Bank has launched a real estate asset management subsidiary Skyrise Properties, according to a press release. The new subsidiary provides services including property management, sales leasing, brokerage, third-party evaluations, and facilities management supervision, the statement reads. Mohammed Al Shamsi, with 25+ years of retail and real estate experience, now heads Skyrise Properties as CEO after 9+ years at Ajman Bank.
AVIATION-
Turkmenistan launches flights to Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi is set to welcome passenger flights from Turkmenistan, which is debuting a new route connecting Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat to Abu Dhabi, BNN Breaking reports.
ENVIRONMENT-
Abu Dhabi’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) and XMILE Group are launching an enzyme-based fuel additives processing facility, the first of its kind in the MENA region, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a Department of Economic Development statement.
The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (AED) and PureHealth inked an agreement to investigate the link between climate change and public health in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reports. Both organizations will exchange data, research knowledge, and participate in capacity-building initiatives, including training programs, the article reads.
