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Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria began her four day visit to the United Arab Emirates Monday. Her official visit consists of going to four of the seven emirates, meeting with sheikhs, touring medical facilities and promoting Swedish products.
 KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images She started her trip by attending the opening day of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, where she was its keynote speaker.
“I am delighted to once again visit the United Arab Emirates,” Victoria began her speech. “Additionally, to be given the opportunity to take part in the World Future Energy Summit is a great honor for me. I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for hosting this important Summit.”
The Crown Princess went on to discuss renewable energy and eco-friendly technology in Sweden.
“My country, Sweden has the highest share of renewable energy within the European Union. Both Sweden and Europe have high ambitions to further increase our share of renewable energy by 2020. In the area of green technology and sustainable cities, Sweden has well developed and extensive district heating networks, which can use the local available energy sources such as waste heat and other renewables. Heating may not be the most dire need here in the United Arab Emirates but the same principle may be used in the district cooling networks, which I know are more useful in this region. So one could say, that cooling is a hot issue.
“Furthermore, over the past decades the economy in Sweden has continued to grow. This growth has occurred at the same time as our energy efficiency and share of renewable energy have increased significantly. But nothing happens in isolation — we need to work across national borders. We have many things in common and important lessons to learn from each other. Both success stories and mistakes are of value in this process.”
Victoria then talked about how all members of society need to play a role in creating an environmentally aware community. She even pointed out that such action takes individual responsibility in order to make it happen.
“To be able to meet the long term challenges of climate change and also to address global and regional energy challenges, we need to work closely together,” Victoria said as she closed her speech.
Following her opening of the summit, the Crown Princess then officially opened the Swedish pavilion at the location, and attended a panel with young future energy leaders.
Later on, she visited the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Masdar Institute and inaugurated the Swedish SymbioCity Office at Masdar City. Crown Princess Victoria also opened the new IKEA store on Yas Island.
Tuesday saw her go to Dubai, where she went to the Swedish LEED Platinum certified ESAB facilities in Jebel Ali Free Zone and stopped by the Scandinavian Seaman’s Center.
On Wednesday, Victoria will go to Ajman and visit the Rashid Centre for Diabetes and Research which is working in cooperation with Swedish Global Health Partners.
As for Thursday, Victoria will end her visit by going to the Fujairah emirate and see the EWW-WWF Wadi Wurayah Mountain Protected Area.
It is not known why her husband, Prince Daniel, did not accompany her on this trip.
Sources: Kungehuset.se, Embassy of Sweden Abu Dhabi
The Queen of the U.K. recently finished a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, which began on Tuesday. This was her first time visiting the Persian Gulf state since 1979. Along with her husband, Prince Philip, and second son, Prince Andrew, the Queen sought to broaden the already close links between Great Britain and the UAE.
 WPA Pool - John Stillwell/Getty Images After landing in Abu Dhabi, the Queen and her entourage were greeted by the emirate’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Soon after, Her Majesty was given a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. She wore a scarf around her hat and removed her shoes out of respect. As she walked, the Queen was fascinated by the mosque’s floor designs, which have mosaic floral designs. A crowd gathered to see the monarch, releasing an audible “wow” as they caught a glimpse of her.
While at the mosque, Queen Elizabeth, her husband and son, went to the tomb of the father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. She also listened to students reciting the Quran.
The next day, the British delegation attended a UAE – UK partnership ceremony. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the British Foreign Secretary William Hague signed at the ceremony the “Abu Dhabi Declaration 2010″ reaffirming the UAE-UK Friendship treaty signed in 1971 that asserted that the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom will, in times of need, will consult each other on matters of close to each other’s interests.
The UAE is a collection of seven emirates that united in 1971 after gaining full independence from the UK.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York said: “I think you have to look back to the fact this is a long-standing relationship between the UAE and the United Kingdom which reaches back over 40 years when the UAE was a protectorate.
 John Stillwell - Pool/Getty Images “A lot of work has gone on in the intervening period. Since the new [UK] government came in there’s been an increased level of concern for this particular region in terms of investment, in terms of business opportunities.
“This has been reciprocated by the UAE and other countries in the region.”
Also while in the UAE, Queen Elizabeth unveiled the Zayed National Museum with the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. She even gave orders to the Sheikh as well as the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi Thursday at a state banquet at Mushrif Palace. The latter Sheikh received the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, GCB, while the Dubai Sheikh got the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, GCMG.
Starting Thursday, the Queen and the British delegation will go to Oman for a three day state visit. I will keep you posted on that one.
Source: Emirates News Agency, Gulf News
Princess Haya, the wife of the Sheikh of Dubai, was re-elected as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) on Friday during a voting session in Taiwan. The Jordanian-born Haya won 90 of 124 votes cast to win the required two-thirds majority. She will serve a second four year term.
 REUTERS/Caren Firouz/FILE “Thank you so much for your confidence and trust. I promise that I won’t let you down,” 36 year-old Princess Haya told delegates. “I am truly humbled by what you have done for me.”
She beat opponents Sven Holmberg of Sweden, who was the FEI vice president and got 23 votes, and Dutchman Henk Rottinghuis who got only 11 votes.
Haya won despite the controversy surrounding her first term. There were some saying she created a undemocratic atmosphere as she served as president.
“I took criticism seriously, and I have learned a lot, ” she said, adding that the greatest lesson she has learned was that it is important to cope with diverse cultures and deal with people in an international organization.
The Princess, who is the half-sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in the equestrian event.
She has made it her mission to avoid any doping of the horses in the sport.
This will be Princess Haya’s last time as FEI President. One of the rules she changed in her first term was to have a two-term, four year presidency. Her tenure will end in 2014.
Sources: AP, Focus Taiwan News Channel
Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, passed away Wednesday at the age of 92. He was buried on the same day, according to Muslim tradition. All over the United Arab Emirates, flags are to be flown at half-mast for a week.
 REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah Born in 1929, the Sheikh inherited the emirate in 1948, and paid close attention to developing Ras Al Khaimah, the fourth largest of the UAE’s sheikhdoms. One area Saqr worked the most on was education, believing that would be key to development. In 1960, he had set up 10 schools, five each for boys and girls.
The Sheikh also set up an industrial training center 1969, by which time the number of schools had risen to 27, with around 6,000 male and female students. He also opened several hospitals, and maintained good relations with the rest of the UAE and beyond.
When oil was discovered in Ras Al Khaimah, he said: “We hope, in three years, to achieve what other countries have achieved in ten years, and we will not rely in our development mainly on oil.”
Sheikh Saqr was known for his “modesty, vision, wisdom and generosity” according to Gulf News.
 REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah Saqr has been succeeded by his fourth son, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi. Born in 1956, Saud earned a degree in economics and political science from the University of Michigan in the United States. He was appointed Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah in June 2003.
There is some concern over the future of Ras Al Khaimah, which is considered to be the least stable of the emirates. For instance, Sheikh Saud became Crown Prince after his older half brother, Sheikh Khalid was deposed by decree. Since then Khalid has campaigned to regain his position, though analysts say its unlikely.
“I don’t foresee any real problems, I think the issue has been settled. The authorities in Abu Dhabi and at a federation level will not allow any sign of friction or instability,” Emirati politics professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla said.
UAE blogger Ahmed Mansour, who hails from Ras Al Khaimah, agreed.
“This is just a continuation of what has been going on since 2003,” he said.
“Abu Dhabi has been supporting Sheikh Saud from the start and they stood by him during the events of 2003. Nothing has changed in terms of the reasons behind this support.”
Still, military tanks were seen around both Sheikh Khalid’s and Saud’s palace on Wednesday.
Sources: Gulf News, Reuters Canada
The wife of the Sheikh of Dubai, Princess Haya, is to run again as president of International Equestrian Federation (FEI). She announced this on Saturday, when the Princess published her program for re-election.
 STR/AFP/Getty Images “It has been a great privilege to serve as President of the FEI for the past four years, and I would be honored to have the opportunity to consolidate the gains and the progress we have made in a second and final term,” Haya said in a statement.
In Princess Haya’s outline, she pledges to develop an FEI Solidarity Program, based on the Olympic Solidarity model with athlete representation and full voting rights at FEI executive board level. She also plans to make formal connections between the FEI, racing, polo and other equine sport organizations.
Princess Haya even pledged that transportation and quarantine challenges will be addressed through compulsory microchipping of equestrian sport horses.
Additionally, there are plans for the FEI’s Veterinary Department to organize a full-fledged transport and quarantine section so eventually the FEI can ultimately ship the horses of the National Equestrian Federations to FEI championships.
“This is a wonderful time for our sport, which is growing around the world and attracting ever-increasing audiences,” Haya said in her statement.
“This has been a time to reflect on learnings and accomplishments, while also exploring ways that the FEI can better support National Federations and athletes; I’m very excited to share my program ideas, which have been born of my conversations with National Federations and members of our sporting family around the world. Any election is about the future; it’s a time to re-clarify our long-term goals and the steps we can take to strengthen our Federation and our sport. While I’m delighted with how far we’ve come, there is so much more we can do together, and I’m eager to have the opportunity to continue to lead our Federation’s transformation.”
The Princess, who is half-sister to Jordan’s King Abdullah II, was elected to the FEI in 2006 with the intention of modernizing the organization. She was the first to win an contested election for the FEI.
Among her achievements during her first term, Haya improved the FEI’s communications, marketing, animal welfare, finances, grass roots development and liaison with national federations. She also limited the presidency term to two four year terms.
The Princess began competing in equestrian sports when she was 13, and even represented Jordan in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
The election of the new FEI president will take place on November 5th in Taipei, Taiwan.
Sources: Gulf News, WAM
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.
 profimedia.cz, Topfoto/RIA News, Ilya Pitalev 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.
Source: RIA News
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.
Sources: AP, Big Pond News
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.
Sources: WAM, Gulf News
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.
Sources: Arab News, Saudi Gazette, AFP
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.
 Lise Aaserud/Scanpix 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.”
Sources: Kongehuset.no, The National, WAM
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