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Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
Dubai Municipality participates in Dubai Dates Festival
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Municipality has announced its participation in the Dubai Dates Festival, taking place from 25 July to 1 August 2025. The Municipality will showcase its advanced laboratory services, agricultural initiatives, and food safety programmes, while promoting environmental sustainability and engaging the public on recycling and community wellbeing. The initiative reflects Dubai Municipality's commitment to supporting national products and contributing to a sustainable and secure food ecosystem. Its participation aligns with the emirate's broader vision of health, safety, and economic prosperity through high-quality municipal services. Dr Naseem Mohammed Rafea, Acting CEO of the Health and Safety Agency at Dubai Municipality, said: 'The Dubai Dates Festival is a celebration of one of the region's most valued agricultural products and an opportunity to reinforce the importance of food safety, innovation, and sustainability. Our participation reflects Dubai Municipality's ongoing commitment to ensuring product quality through precise, advanced laboratory testing, while supporting farmers and promoting a culture of health and environmental awareness.' Throughout the festival, the Dubai Central Laboratory will conduct daily on-site testing of date samples from exhibitor booths using its Mobile Food Testing Lab. Equipped with advanced technologies, the lab enables rapid analysis and provides accredited results that meet the highest international safety standards. This capability ensures immediate regulatory response to any contamination risks, safeguarding public health and reinforcing consumer confidence. Dubai Municipality will also highlight its agricultural programmes and technical services that support local farmers through education, guidance, and sustainable practices. These initiatives enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and contribute to the preservation of palm trees as part of Dubai's ecological and cultural heritage. As part of its scientific pest control efforts, the Municipality will present its integrated management programmes targeting pests such as the red palm weevil. Live demonstrations and expert consultations will be available at the booth, along with insights into modern palm offshoot tissue culture techniques and Dubai Municipality's free home palm pest control services. For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
UN HLPF 2025: GEEP, NYU launch Global Ideation Lab
H.E. Abdulla Lootah: The UAE's knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive. It leverages contributions across sectors, both locally and globally, while providing an environment for the creation of innovative ideas and impactful development solutions The Global Ideation Lab, co-hosted by GEEP and NYU, helps build a global sandbox for innovative ideas, provides a creative open space, and gathers thought leaders and policymakers from government, academia, and university students The Ideation Lab highlighted the developmental role of initiatives that support global partnerships, including the UAE's GEEP, which serves as an incubator for cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge-sharing platform New York, USA – The Government Experience Exchange Programme (GEEP), under the UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, launched a Global Ideation Lab in collaboration with New York University (NYU). The Ideation Lab was held alongside the UAE delegation's participation at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development 2025, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the UN Headquarters in New York City. It brought together leading experts, academics, UN officials, diplomats, policymakers, and university students to explore new prospects in government sector innovation and global cooperation. The session drew participation from 26 ministers, experts, academics, and UN officials, including Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships, and Patrick Paul Walsh, Vice President of Education and Director of the SDG Academy at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Attendees also included sustainability officials and diplomats from countries such as Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland, Serbia, Paraguay, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Kingdom of Eswatini, and others. Members of the UAE delegation to the HLPF, officials from NYU's administrative and academic bodies, and 30 students from NYU, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania also participated. Global Ideas Sandbox The Ideation Lab helps build a global ideas sandbox and provides a creative open space. It highlighted the developmental role of comprehensive initiatives supporting global partnerships, particularly the UAE's GEEP, which serves as an incubator for scalable cross-border partnerships and an effective knowledge sharing platform. UAE Commitment to Expanding Partnerships His Excellency Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange and Chair of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, stated that the UAE's knowledge-sharing approach is comprehensive, leveraging contributions across sectors locally and globally. This approach provides an environment for creating innovative ideas and impactful development solutions. 'In the UAE, we have successfully built a pioneering model for international cooperation based on knowledge exchange with countries and governments, and GEEP is a crucial part of this endeavor,' Lootah said. 'We are committed to involving various sectors, particularly academia, and cooperating with everyone in developing solutions to urgent global challenges, including developmental challenges, and expanding frameworks for sharing, transferring, and exchanging best government practices to help achieve sustainable development.' He added: 'The joint Global Ideation Lab between GEEP and NYU exemplifies the collaborative approach we adopt in the UAE to develop best practices that enhance readiness for present and future opportunities.' Challenge and Solution Model The Global Ideation Lab adopted a collaborative approach between GEEP and NYU, centered on posing challenges, linking academic insights with practical governance, and involving various stakeholders in designing partnership-based and scalable solutions. The session outcomes contributed to aligning knowledge inputs with policy, empowering stakeholders to participate in developing innovative solutions to urgent governance challenges, and accelerating progress towards the 2030 SDGs. UN High-Level Political Forum The HLPF on Sustainable Development is the UN's central platform for reviewing and advancing SDGs. Established in 2012, the forum plays a pivotal role in monitoring national and international progress on the 2030 Agenda. Participating delegations assess progress toward the SDGs, with this year's forum featuring in-depth reviews of five priority goals: SDG3 (ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages); SDG5 (achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls); SDG8 (promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all); SDG14 (conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG17 (strengthening and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development).
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Zawya
GCAA-Volar dialogue in Beijing accelerates green aviation innovation and GAT Hub collaboration
Beijing – Regulators and industry leaders convened today in Beijing for the GCAA-Volar Dialogue: Pioneering Innovation in Green Aviation, co-hosted by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Volar Air Mobility (Volar). The Dialogue welcomed His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE GCAA; Mr. Henry Hooi, Chairman of Volar Air Mobility Holding Co.; Mr. Saif Aldarmaki, Chairman of Volar Air Mobility Industries and distinguished aviation industry pioneers. The event focused on the development of various green aviation technologies, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), electric & hydrogen propulsion technologies, AI pilot training, green materials and green infrastructure development. Renowned sustainability expert, Dr. Sharon Lu presented on the advancement of the SAF industry and the alignment of industry initiatives with ICAO's global decarbonization goals, highlighting opportunities for cross-border cooperation. Mr. Guo Yilin from Liaoning General Aviation Academy shared the development roadmap of the RX-series electric aircraft — the World's Widest series of Electric Aircraft. A key highlight was the progress of the Green Aviation Technology (GAT) Hub, an integrated incubation and commercialization platform ecosystem for sustainable aviation, established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last year between the GCAA and Volar in Montreal during the ICAO Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium. Keynote Speech presented by His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE GCAA, stating: 'Advancing green technologies is central to the UAE's vision for the future of aviation. We are committed to fostering innovation, supporting sustainable solutions, and strengthening international partnerships to drive real progress. The Green Aviation Technology (GAT) Hub stands as a key platform for collaboration towards cleaner skies and a more sustainable aviation future. Our partnership with Volar is an important step among many, reflecting the UAE's dedication to innovation and global cooperation.' Mr. Henry Hooi, Chairman of Volar Air Mobility Holding Co., highlighted the Hub's transformative impact: 'The GAT Hub is the launchpad for a new era of green aviation in the UAE ecosystem. By connecting technology, talent, and investment, we are building a platform for scalable solutions to redefine air mobility—both regionally and globally.' Mr. Saif Aldarmaki, Chairman of Volar Air Mobility Industries, supplemented: 'Today's dialogue is another step forward in our mission to empower local communities, enable sustainable air mobility options, and educate the next generation. Through the GAT Hub, we are determined to deliver real-world impact and foster responsible growth in aviation.' The session also featured perspectives from Dr. Yao Junchen and Ms. Zhang Xue, Co-Founding Members of the International Association for Green Aviation (IAGA), who emphasized the vital importance of academia-industry collaboration and shared actionable insights for fostering green aviation innovation and talent development. The Dialogue facilitated introductions between the UAE and leading Chinese technology companies — Zhonghang Shanda Superalloys, Zhuhai Xiangyi Aviation Technology, Guofu Hydrogen and Beijing Urban Construction Design & Development Group Co. — each exploring opportunities to expand or further strengthen their presence within the UAE's flourishing green aviation ecosystem. In the Closing Remarks, Volar announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Falcon Aviation on the commercialization of electric aircraft in the UAE. This partnership marks a significant step towards accelerating the adoption and integration of electric aircraft in the region, further demonstrating the UAE's commitment to sustainable and innovative air mobility solutions. About UAE GCAA The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was established in 1996 by Federal Cabinet Decree (Law4) as the national regulatory authority for civil aviation in the United Arab Emirates. Its core mission is to oversee and develop the civil aviation sector in line with the highest standards of safety, security, and sustainability. In alignment with the UAE government's forward-looking vision and national priorities, the GCAA is committed to building a globally leading aviation system that fosters innovation, develops Emirati capabilities, and enhances the UAE's position as a hub for safe, secure, and sustainable air transport. For more information, visit: For media inquiries, please contact: communication@ About Volar Air Mobility Volar Air Mobility is a pioneering company in the field of advanced air mobility solutions, dedicated to developing sustainable aviation technologies that drive the future of air travel and reduce environmental impact. The company is dedicated to fostering sustainable aviation technologies that contribute to a green future. For more information, visit: For media inquiries, please contact: info@
