As president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), it is Princess Haya of Dubai’s position to oversee the development of equestrianism throughout the world. In Moscow Thursday, she was at the ceremonial signing of a memorandum on the development of equestrian sports, and on holding international competitions and establishment of a federal training center in Russia.
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With the Princess was Russia’s Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy, Vitaly Mutko, and the Equestrian Federation of Russia (COFEPRIS), Dmitry Titov.
Haya stressed the importance of signing the memorandum, noting that “Russia has made a significant contribution to the development of equestrian sport.”
“I am very pleased that we have reached full understanding with the Equestrian Federation of Russia and the Ministry on all matters relating to the future of equestrian sports. This is truly a happy day for our federation and, in general, our sport.”
According to Titov, the Federal Center for Development of equestrian sport will produce not only Russian athletes but also to help representatives of the Baltic States and other former Soviet countries. He stressed Russia’s past victories in equestrian.
“We have had successes up to the 1980s. In dressage, a very subjective discipline, we were on a 2-3-4 head and shoulders above the other contenders,” Titov said.
The investment company controlled by the ruler of Dubai wants to extend its debt payback by three months. This had raised questions on just how far deep are Dubai’s credit problems.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images/FILE
Dubai International Capital, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, said in a short statement Thursday that it has asked lenders for an extension “of certain maturities” until September 30.
“The extension period would allow the implementation of a consensual longer term plan that would enable DIC to maximize the value of its business for the benefit of all its stakeholders,” the company said.
DIC did not give more details of its debt involved. The company has a $1.25 billion loan coming in June.
“The extension period would allow the implementation of a consensual longer-term plan that would enable DIC to maximise the value of its business for the benefit of all its stakeholders,” said the DIC.
DIC will “continue to pay interest” during the extension period, its spokeswoman said.
The parent firm of DIC – Dubai Holding, which is also run by the Sheikh – is believed to have debts mounting to a total of $15 billion. The International Monetary Firm believes the entire Sheikhdom is about $109 billion in debt.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi began his three day official visit to South Korea by invitation of President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday. The point of his trip is to strengthen ties between the United Arab Emirates and the east Asian nation as they celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations.
As part of his official visit, Mohammed toured landmarks and facilities in Korea, one of them being the Doosan Group for Heavy Industries and Construction manufacturing plant to get an idea of the country’s nuclear energy.
“The UAE’s peaceful nuclear program is a step forward in the UAE’s comprehensive development strategy due to its positive and promising aspects, which will complement the UAE’s constant development,” the Crown Prince told reporters.
He also toured the Shin Kori power plant which is working on a Generation III reactor. A similar reactor will soon be built in the UAE.
Crown Prince Mohammed praised South Korea’s nuclear sector for being environmentally safe, and he hoped for the same when his country gets its own nuclear facilities.
“There is a growing need for safe and reliable sources of alternative and clean energy that will meet the increasing requirements for development and serve the rapid population and urban growth,” Mohammed said, adding that he hoped UAE-South Korea ties will also include nuclear energy.
The leaders of six Gulf nations gathered in Riyadh for the 12th annual Gulf Cooperation Council. Royals from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates came to Dirriyah Palace to discuss among Iran, Iraq, Yemen and the Mideast peace process.
Xinhua/Saudi Photo Agency
All those in attendance agreed to back the U.S.-backed Mideast peace process, which broke down last year. They also called for a revival of the peace talks and for Israel to stop settlements in Palestinian territories.
In addition, the Gulf leaders sided with Kuwait in an alleged Iranian spy group discovered in that country. The secretary-general of the GCC, Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, said “The security of the Gulf region is a red line. The security of the Gulf cannot be divided.”
“But our Kuwaiti friends want to handle it themselves for the moment,” he added.
As for Iraq, the GCC members called for all neighboring countries and the international community to help the troubled nation to get back on its feet.
The GCC was hosted by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. Crown Prince Sultan and Prince Naif were present. The monarchs of Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait were there, while the UAE was represented by its Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai. Oman was the other country at the summit, but its deputy prime minister was there instead of its Sultan.
After a whirlwind visit to Qatar, Crown Prince Haakon stopped by the United Arab Emirates. Although Norway has had diplomatic relations with the UAE since 1994, this is the first a member of the royal family has made an official visit there. Haakon’s focus during this trip was on climate change and business relations.
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First thing on his list was to give a lecture at Zayed University. Traditionally an all-female institution, the university has an all-male chapter in Abu Dhabi. Haakon’s speech was on Development and Dignity, which is part of his campaign on treating others with respect.
“What will you do in the next year to increase someone’s dignity?” he asked the assembled students.
“Why should we care about people we don’t know?” he continued. “Why should it make a difference to us what happens to them? The answer is dignity, we need to be able to see other people and share with them.”
Some of the students were so inspired by the Crown Prince that they decided to help others too.
“He is a royal prince who has travelled the world to help others, so we can do the same,” Maitha Abdulrahman told The National . “We should spend less money on a day-to-day basis.”
Next for Haakon, he attended a seminar called “Norway as a Technology Partner in the Maritime Oil and Gas Sector.” Both Norway and the UAE are major oil exporters, and having the Crown Prince visiting the country is meant to cement ties between them.
“We come gardening with the two ambitions: further expand relations between UAE and Norway by engaging in a broad dialogue, and rising both political issues and stronger commercial ties,” Haakon said in a speech at the seminar.
He also had a chance to be briefed on the UAE’s Masdar Project, which aims to be the world’s first city that is entirely eco-friendly. It also aims to be center for research and development on renewable energy and sustainable technology.
Also on his agenda for Wednesday was to have lunch with some of Abu Dhabi’s royals. The Crown Prince met with Sheikh Hamdan al-Zayed al-Nahyan and discussed with him the focus of his official visit. Haakon also told reporters he hoped for closer ties between his country and UAE.
“The political dialogue between our two countries has been increasing steadily during the last few years since Norway opened its embassy here in 1994. The UAE is an important partner for Norway, in particular as we have common interests in regional issues. I am pleased to hear that the UAE has now started the process of opening an embassy in Oslo.”
Princess Haya inaugurated the seventh annual Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development conference (DIHAD) on Sunday, which had this year’s theme as “Global Health Challenges of Tomorrow: Impact & Response.” Several international organizations gathered to discussed the recent humanitarian crisis in Haiti, food shortage and climate change.
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During DIHAD’s opening ceremony, Haya spoke of the need to bring changes to humanitarianism as its demand grows.
“The traditional solution to hunger is simply to produce more food – more wheat, maize or rice. It is not that simple. We need the right foods for the right people at the right times in their lives. To deal with hunger effectively, we need to target our interventions better,” she said. “Ultimately, we need to modify behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles in order to reduce the soaring burden.”
The Princess also voiced her concern about the way aid money is raised and spent.
“Too often there is a humanitarian industry or a humanitarian bureaucracy that consumes too much of what is donated,” she said. “If we are to make progress on issues like hunger or the epidemic of obesity and cope with the massive humanitarian emergencies, the culture of aid must change.”
“The biggest global health challenges that we will face tomorrow are the ones we are creating today,” she continued. “Globalization, population growth, and climate change, all man-made, will have significant impacts on health.”
Haya also mentioned two major food problems: hunger and obesity, both of which are and will cause more health issues in the future.
“Despite a sharp rise in obesity rates, under-nutrition is still probably the greatest immediate threat to global health because it plays such a large role in deaths among young children,” she said. “But, the tsunami-like surge of overeating occurring worldwide is now creating a massive public health challenge in the form of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease.”
After DIHAD’s opening ceremony, Princess Haya was given a tour of the exhibits and stands set up for the conference. In this way, she met over 275 humanitarian and charity associations, relief agencies, NGOs, donors and procurers. Some of them included UNICEF, the World Food Program and the UAE Red Crescent Society.
The brother of the President of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of Abu Dhabi, was laid to rest on Wednesday. In accordance to Muslim tradition, Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was buried a day after his body was recovered from a Moroccan lake where the glider he was flying in crashed on Friday.
Reuters/WAM/Handout
In Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh’s body was brought into Sheikh Zayed Mosque on a stretcher with the UAE flag covering it. Ahmed’s brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, along with an imam, led the prayers during the funeral. The mosque is the same one built by Ahmed’s father, and it is where his father lies.
Afterwards, the stretcher was carried out of the mosque and brought to an ambulance. The vehicle than drove away to bury Sheikh Ahmed in a nearby cemetery.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Khalifa received condolences from the rulers of the other emirates and government officials.
Since the death of his brother, Khalifa has received condolences cables from all over the world, including King Mohammed VI of Morocco, King Abdullah II of Jordan, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan of Saudi Arabia, and King Juan Carlos of Spain.
Now the question is what will become of Sheikh Ahmed’s Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the world’s largest sovereign fund. TIME magazine is reporting that there will be power struggle between the Sheikh’s 17 brothers, especially with Crown Prince Mohammed’s powerful clique. The magazine says Ahmed’s ADIA was one area in Abu Dhabi’s economy not controlled by Mohammed. Christopher M. Davidson, senior lecturer at Durham University and author of Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond, suggests the Crown Prince and his brothers are likely to move on ADIA. “Then they will control virtually all of Abu Dhabi’s economy,” he told TIME.
Reuters/WAM/Handout
Davidson also says that the Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, may put his hopes on son-in-law, Sheikh Mansour, who is one of the Crown Prince’s full brothers. “Dubai will be hoping that whoever replaces [Sheikh Ahmed] will be someone who is more open to assisting Dubai, rather than this drip-feed of financial assistance Abu Dhabi has been giving Dubai, little by little, humiliating them every step of the way,” Davidson said.
But at the same time, one of Ahmed’s full blooded brothers may succeed him, particularly elder brother Saif, who is the Interior Minister. Also, Sheikh Khalifa might want to place one of his own sons in charge of ADIA.
Whoever will take over for Ahmed will reflect the power structure within Abu Dhabi’s ruling family as well as the UAE.
The body of an Abu Dhabi Sheikh was found in a Moroccan lake Tuesday morning, after his glider crashed into it four days ago.
REUTERS/WAM/Handout
Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahyan’s remains were recovered after a rescue search involving about 225 people from four different countries, according to Morocco’s state media. The Sheikh was 41 years old.
In the United Arab Emirates, state television was interrupted with readings from the Koran and banners reading, “Sheikh Ahmed…is in the care of God.” The state news agency WAM announced the country will have three days of mourning starting Wednesday, for the younger brother of the President of the UAE and the head of a sovereign fund that made him one of the most powerful people in the world.
Sheikh Ahmed’s the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), is one of the world’s biggest sovereign funds. The news agency Reuters says it is believed ADIA has assets of between $500 billion and $700 billion. It gets its funds from the UAE’s oil exports.
Last year, the Sheikh was ranked as number 27 on Forbes magazine’s most powerful people list.
Despite his influence, Ahmed was elusive to the media, rarely gave interviews and did not particularly care for being called “Your Highness.”
“He was extremely well respected as part of the work he did for ADIA and it was expected that he would play a vital role in the future development of the emirate as a leading member of the ruling family,” a source told Reuters.
The ruling family of Abu Dhabi owned property in Morocco. It was likely Sheikh Ahmed was vacationing there when he was in his glider over the artificial lake formed from the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah Dam. When the glider crashed, the pilot was rescued but no trace of the Sheikh was found until Tuesday.
Ahmed was the son of the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan. He worked for ADIA as an analyst before assuming its head. Though the younger brother of the current Abu Dhabi ruler and President of the UAE, Ahmed was not in line to the emirate.
Experts say ADIA will remain within the al-Nahyan family. A successor could be named in about a week.
The brother of the leader of the United Arab Emirates is still missing after his glider went down over an artificial lake in Morocco Friday. Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the managing director of the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund which is owned by Abu Dhabi.
“Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed al-Nahayan…was in a crash of a glider which was airborne in Morocco. The pilot was rescued and is in good condition. The search for His Highness is still continuing,” WAM, the UAE’s state news agency, said in a statement.
The search could be difficult because of recent heavy rains that have risen water levels.
The glider went down near the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah Dam, which forms the fake lake. It is located near the Atlantic coastal town of Skhirat, south of the capital city of Rabat.
Sheikh Ahmed was likely spending time at one of his family’s homes in Morocco, a place where he owns several properties.
Al Nahyan is in his early 40s, and is the younger brother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Forbes magazine once ranked him as number 27 in its world’s most powerful people list. Despite his wealth and power, Sheikh Ahmed has been described as “elusive” and gives very few interviews.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the wealth fund he runs, has not responded to any of the media’s requests for comments.
On Tuesday, Dubai’s Princess Haya inaugurated the UAE Nursing and Midwifery Council at the emirate’s Atlantis in the Palm. It comes one year after Haya’s husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, decreed the council to show the UAE’s dedication to improving health care.
www.wam.ae
Among those in attendance were Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, UAE Minister of Health, Humaid Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Education, and Princess Muna, the mother of King Abdullah II of Jordan – Princess Haya’s half-brother. Muna is President of the Jordanian Nursing Council (JNC) and Patron of Nursing & Midwifery for the WHO-EMRO.
Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali gave a speech during the ceremony, in which he said: “The Council will also authorize health organizations as nursing training centers, stipulate the foundations and criteria for raising the profession’s standards, propose new legislations and practices to promote nursing and midwifery to achieve quality and excellence in their services.”
At the end of the inauguration, the two Princesses and Dr. Ali gave out certificates to the Council’s task force members. Princess Muna also gave Haya an award on behalf of the Jordanian Nursing Council.
Haya and Muna have a close relationship. Princess Muna was wife to the late King Hussein until the mid-1970′s when he divorced her to marry Alia Touqan, Haya’s mother. Sadly, Queen Alia would die in a 1977 helicopter crash, and Princess Muna comforted the Queen’s three very young children. The Princess once said in an interview that Muna, “has been more like a mother to me than anyone else I know.”
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