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Dubai / WAM The UAE ranked first among GCC countries in best medical tourism destination globally according to the US-based Medical Tourism Association. Oman ranked second and Bahrain came in at third, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were placed fourth and sixth respectively. The ranking in the index is based on a variety of factors, Association said and added that ...

Bloomberg It was meant to be the week when the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) nations gathered in Baghdad to celebrate the cartel’s six decades as a dominant force in global oil markets. Instead, the Opec and its allies will convene online, and reflect on whether the coranavirus has thwarted their best efforts to keep the market afloat. After ...

NEW YORK / WAM The UAE reiterated its continued commitment to upholding the rights of children around the world, particularly those in conflict situations, including by protecting schools and preventing grave violations, as well as protecting the right to education and the need to provide opportunities for fulfillment and growth to the most vulnerable. The UAE stated that protecting education ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has confirmed that higher education institutions making only zero-rated and/or standard-rated supplies may recover input tax in full, except where recovery is specifically blocked. Blocked input tax includes value-added tax (VAT) incurred on certain entertainment services, and motor vehicles that have been purchased, leased, or rented and made available for personal ...

Abu Dhabi / WAM Etihad Airways announced that it has partnered with Singapore food technology startup Lumitics to trial the use of computer vision and machine learning in order to reduce food wastage on Etihad flights. The partnership will see Etihad and Lumitics track unconsumed Economy class meals from Etihad’s flights, with the collated data used to highlight food consumption ...

Dubai / WAM Dubai’s vision to drive economic growth through reliable, clean, efficient and secure energy supply and usage was discussed by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) during an online webinar on energy sustainability in the emirate. “The collaborative efforts of multiple government and private organisations combine to achieve the vision of ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced a new ‘Library Talks’ Programme for 2020. With a focus on libraries as a profession in the Arab world, this carefully curated programme will shed light on the latest related developments, issues, information and subjects affecting this vital public service sector. The ...

DUBAI / WAM Jebel Ali Free Zone, Jafza, has ramped up efforts to support the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector, the free zone operator said on Sunday. The free zone hosted a webinar titled “Empowering Growth During Business Uncertainty” that attracted top industry experts and Jafza associates, which included Abdullah Alajaji, Founder, Driven Properties, Paul Bryson, Director of Domestic ...

ABU DHABI / WAM The UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP) announced that it has vaccinated 12,144,323 Pakistani children under five years old against polio from August 17-26 in a nationwide campaign to vaccinate to 12,788,000 children as part of the Initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for Global Polio Eradication. UAE PAP said the second exceptional ...

KHARTOUM / WAM A second Emirati aid aircraft arrived in Khartoum as part of the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) air bridge under the current UAE humanitarian aid programme, with relief for those affected by the floods in Sudan. The plane carried large quantities of medicines, medical and food supplies, and shelter materials, and was received at Khartoum Airport by the ...