UAE leaders condole with Saudi King on passing of Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to the Saudi King.
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Zawya
15 minutes ago
- Zawya
National policy for the use of AI launched in Bahrain
Bahrain has announced the launch of a national policy for the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI). The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) also announced the adoption of the GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethical Use of AI. The initiative is in line with the directives of Interior Minister and ministerial committee for information and communication technology chairman General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. iGA chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed said that the AI policy, available at aims to harness AI to support economic and social growth, enhance government efficiency and ensure the secure and ethical application of AI in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. He emphasised that the policy adheres to national and international ethical and legal standards. The policy underscores compliance with key national laws and frameworks, including the Personal Data Protection Law, the Law on the Protection of State Documents and Information, the Open Data Policy and the GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethical Use of AI. Mr Al Qaed also highlighted the importance of government entities in educating and enabling national talent to use AI technologies professionally and ethically. He outlined the iGA's efforts to deliver training programmes and workshops to build awareness among public sector employees, particularly in critical sectors such as health, education and public services, contributing to Bahrain's competitiveness at the regional and global levels. He emphasised the government's commitment to integrating AI into public services in a systematic and unified manner, ensuring the alignment of related initiatives and investments to maximise performance, streamline services and deliver tangible benefits to citizens and residents. The national framework also seeks to enhance public trust in advanced technologies and foster a sustainable, innovation-driven digital society. The AI policy targets government officials, developers of digital services, decision-makers, academics, researchers and beneficiaries of smart government services. It focuses on four key pillars: commitment to relevant laws and policies, encouraging AI adoption in government, empowering employees with AI knowledge and skills and reinforcing partnerships to support innovation. The GCC Guiding Manual on the Ethical Use of AI serves as a complementary framework to the national policy on AI, reflecting shared regional values that emphasise respect for human dignity, alignment with Islamic principles and national identity, and a commitment to sustainability, co-operation and human well-being. The manual is founded on four core ethical principles: safeguarding human autonomy in decision-making, ensuring safety and the prevention of harm, promoting fairness and equality and protecting privacy and data integrity. Mr Al Qaed said that the integration of the policy and ethical charter provides a strong foundation for responsible AI governance, supporting institutional digital transformation, public confidence and the development of a sustainable and innovative society. Copyright 2022 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Exporters increasingly find 'alternative markets' ahead of Aug 1 tariff deadline
With US tariffs climbing – particularly on politically sensitive goods like steel, electric vehicles and pharmaceuticals – some firms have begun rerouting exports to more predictable, lower-tariff markets, though not yet at scale. The question now is how widespread it will become, and at what economic cost. India offers an early example. The Asian subcontinent is facing tariffs of up to 26 per cent – among the steepest imposed on any major economy – on goods coming into the US under President Donald Trump 's Liberation Day levies. India's $32 billion jewellery and gems industry is looking to alternative markets, especially the Middle East. That shift will be on show at Sajex 2025, a jewellery trade fair set for September in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Backed by the Indian government and industry bodies, the event is part of a broader push to establish the Middle East as a long-term market for Indian exports. India, a global leader in diamond processing and jewellery manufacturing, regards Saudi Arabia as a big growth opportunity, especially as trade tensions with the US resurface. The kingdom's jewellery market was estimated at $4.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow strongly through 2030. Tariff push For many countries, US tariff increases under the current administration have remained modest so far, typically around 10 per cent, whereas two dozen or so face substantially higher levies. So, the impact of tariffs is concentrated but weighty. For now, many exporters are coping with this by stomaching a squeeze in their margins, negotiating lower prices with suppliers, or taking advantage of weaker domestic currencies, which help to offset some of the added cost. But if tariffs rise permanently to above 10 per cent to15 per cent, it will lead to economics shifting in many industries. At that point, rethinking where and how to export becomes unavoidable. China, which had faced tariffs as high as 145 per cent on some goods entering the US, responded by accelerating shipments ahead of tariff deadlines and redirecting exports to other markets. That redirection has been greatest to those economies with a free trade agreement with China, or where import penetration was below average. The Trump administration announced new levies in April but delayed implementation twice – first to July, then again to August – prompting a rush to beat the clock. Some of those duties have since been eased under a temporary trade truce agreed between Washington and Beijing in London. Another meeting is set to take place soon in Stockholm. Still, Chinese exports to the US fell 10.9 per cent year-on-year in dollar terms during the first half of the year. Over the same period, exports to Asean countries – some of which Washington claims are being used to reroute Chinese goods and bypass tariffs – rose 13 per cent. In June alone, total Chinese exports rose 5.8 per cent in dollar terms, driven in part by firms racing to move goods before tariffs take effect in August. The surge offered a short-term lift to China's economy, which has leaned heavily on exports to compensate for weak domestic demand amid a prolonged property sector downturn. China-EU shift? While concerns persist over a wave of redirected Chinese goods entering Europe and other industrialised markets, there is little clear evidence of such a shift – at least not yet. Much of the excess appears to be heading into emerging economies, where trade oversight tends to be lighter and price remains a bigger factor in purchasing decisions. In China's case, the worry extends beyond volume. Some believe that redirected exports are state-subsidised, fuelling fears in places like the EU that competition is being distorted long before goods cross any borders. Meanwhile, on Sunday, a new trade deal was reached between the US and the EU with a 15 per tariff on most EU goods to the US, including pharmaceuticals, automobiles and semiconductors, averting a transatlantic trade war. Tariffs on metals remain unchanged. For now, changes in global trade flows are limited. One reason is that for heavily regulated or very complex products, like medical devices or automotive parts, redirecting exports tends to require compliance with new safety and certification standards. That can be time consuming and costly. Also, shifting factories across borders does not happen overnight. The semiconductor industry offers a good example. Two years ago, Taiwan's TSMC, one of the world's largest chip makers, said it planned to build a new €10 billion semiconductor plant in Germany. However, the factory is not expected to be up and running until 2027. For exporters, such delays can affect revenue. For importers, higher tariffs usually lead to higher consumer prices. In the US, this is already happening, with inflation rising to 2.7 per cent in June, ahead of forecasts, and core inflation increasing to 2.9 per cent. US retail stalwart Walmart, which imports heavily from China and Mexico, has warned that even a partial rollback of US tariffs leaves them too high to absorb. The last US-China trade war, launched in 2018, saw nearly all tariff costs passed through to American firms and consumers. History seems to be repeating itself. Macroeconomic data points to the broader fallout. A surge in imports, driven by pre-tariff stockpiling, helped drag the US economy into a 0.2 per cent annualised contraction in the first quarter of the year, the first such decline since 2022. General Motors is a case study in tariff exposure. With plants in Mexico, South Korea and Canada, the US car maker absorbed $1.1 billion in tariff costs in the second quarter, wiping out nearly a third of its adjusted profits. For now, many executives I teach at IMD are still in wait-and-see mode. Some companies are now delaying production shifts until 2026. Many cite advice to front-load exports before each tariff deadline. That has tactic worked so far. But with another deadline looming on August 1, the space for temporary fixes is closing. The deeper lesson of this moment is that volatility in trade policy is corrosive. As World Trade Organisation modelling suggests, if global tariffs rise and countries retaliate against the US, trade growth could reverse – falling from a projected 2.7 per cent gain this year to a decline of 0.5 per cent. In a world already navigating inflation, instability and slowing demand, few economies can afford another self-inflicted slowdown.
UAE Moments
an hour ago
- UAE Moments
25 Tonnes of Aid Dropped Over Gaza by UAE, Jordan Planes
On Saturday, July 26, three planes from the UAE and Jordan carried out air drops over Gaza, delivering 25 tonnes of much-needed food and humanitarian aid. One of the aircraft was from the UAE, marking the country's 54th airdrop under its 'Birds of Goodness' operation — part of the wider 'Gallant Knight 3' mission. The other two aircraft came from the Jordanian Armed Forces. Why It Matters The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become severe. With many areas inaccessible by land, the UAE and Jordan are using air drops to reach isolated civilians. The UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced the resumption of airdrops, stressing the need for urgent international action. UAE's Efforts So Far The Emirates has contributed over 44% of all international aid reaching Gaza. Since launching 'Birds of Goodness,' the UAE has used 193 aircraft to drop around 3,725 tonnes of aid — including food and other vital supplies. Situation on the Ground Meanwhile, Israel announced a daily pause in military activity across three areas of Gaza starting Sunday. The pause will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., allowing safer aid delivery. Gaza Airdrop Sparks Mixed Reactions
