Latest news with #AbdulRahmanAlOwais
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE, Kuwait sign multiple agreements, deals to boost cooperation
KUWAIT CITY - In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and H.H. Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, the UAE and Kuwait signed a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) today aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. The signings took place during H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed's official visit to Kuwait and were held at Bayan Palace. These agreements are intended to broaden the scope of strategic partnerships between the two nations and to support their mutual development priorities. The agreements and memorandums include the following: An MoU for cooperation in the health sector, signed by Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, and Dr. Ahmed Abdul Wahab Al-Awadi, Minister of Health of Kuwait. An MoU between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and the Sheikh Soud Nasser AlSabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute, signed by Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, UAE Minister of State, and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait. An MoU in the field of land transport and roads infrastructure, signed by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Dr Noura Mohammed Al-Mashaan, Minister of Public Works & Municipality of Kuwait. An MoU in the field of social development affairs, signed by Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of Community Empowerment, and Dr. Amthal Hadi Al-Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Social Development, and Family and Childhood of Kuwait. An MoU in industry and advanced technology, signed by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Khalifa Abdullah Dhahi Al-Ajeel Al-Askar, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Kuwait. An MoU in education sector, signed by Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, UAE Minister of Education, and Sayed Jalal Sayed Abdul Mohsen Al-Tabtabaei Minister of Education of Kuwait. An MoU in oil and gas cooperation, signed by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Tariq Suleiman Al-Roumi, Oil Minister of Kuwait. An MoU in the field of combating human trafficking and another on legal cooperation were signed by Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Justice, and Nasser Yousef Al-Sumait, Minister of Justice of Kuwait. An MoU in the field of electricity, water, and future energy, signed by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy of Kuwait. An MoU in the field of promoting direct investment, signed by Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi, UAE Minister of Investment, and Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director-General of Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). An MoU in the field of data protection and information exchange in joint security projects, signed by Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Interior, and Major General Ali Al-Adwani, Acting Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior of Kuwait. An agreement was also signed earlier on the "Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership" launched by MGX, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, and Microsoft, which now includes the Kuwait Investment Authority as a partner. In addition, a contract was signed between the Kuwait's Ministry of Defence and the UAE's EDGE Group for the procurement and delivery of several 'Falaj 3' class missile boats.
Time Out Dubai
6 days ago
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
The UAE's Emirates ID might be changing soon – here's how
That little Emirates ID card you carry around in your wallet? It might be on its way out – or at least, headed for a serious digital upgrade. Known for being one step above the rest, the UAE has futuristic plans to phase out the need to physically present your Emirates ID when accessing key services. Instead, biometric tech like facial recognition and digital verification through your phone will do all the work. The new system – spearheaded by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) – is expected to roll out within the next year. And it could be a game-changer for everything from hospital visits to hotel check-ins. The new e-Emirates ID system Currently, despite all the tech advances in the UAE, you still need to flash your original Emirates ID card to do quite a few things – like open a bank account, check into a hotel, or access healthcare. But not for long. Enter: the upgraded e-Emirates ID system. How will it work? The ICP is expanding the use of digital Emirates IDs via the UAEPASS app – a government-backed platform that already allows users to request digital versions of official documents. The next step? Making facial recognition and biometric authentication the norm. Instead of handing over a card, you'll soon be able to verify your identity just by looking at a screen. The plan is to integrate this across a wide range of sectors – think banking, healthcare, telecoms and hospitality. You might also like: You won't believe what your Emirates ID chip knows about you Wait, haven't we seen this before? Sort of. The UAE introduced facial recognition services through the UAEPASS app back in 2021, during GITEX. Since then, the tech has slowly been rolled out across select services. But now, the ICP wants to take things further, encouraging partners across industries to adopt the new system and make it universal. Minister of State for FNC Affairs, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, confirmed that e-Emirates IDs are already in use for several services. The focus now is on speeding up adoption, ironing out challenges and expanding digital identity use across all key sectors. What about privacy? Naturally, when biometric data is involved, people want to know how their information is being protected. The ICP says it's following strict laws and data protection standards to ensure trust and security for all users. So while you may be trading your card for a camera scan, your personal data should still be safe and sound. This could be the beginning of the end for physical Emirates IDs – at least when it comes to using them for everyday services. The transition won't happen overnight, but it's well underway. So, if you haven't downloaded the UAEPASS app yet, now might be a good time. More Dubai news Dubai commits Dhs1.4 Billion to major flood-prevention project The city is working hard to fight flooding Dubai's Mall of the Emirates to undergo *huge* expansion — here's what to expect You're going to see some big changes 18 renamed Dubai Metro stations (and their true meanings explained) A full breakdown
CairoScene
17-04-2025
- Business
- CairoScene
Facial Recognition to Replace Physical Emirates ID Cards in UAE
The new facial recognition-based digital ID system will be integrated into the UAEPASS app. Apr 17, 2025 The UAE is set to phase out physical Emirates ID cards in favour of a new national digital ID system based on facial recognition and biometric verification. Expected to roll out within a year, the system will enable residents and citizens to access essential services—banking, healthcare, hospitality, telecommunications—without presenting a physical card. The initiative, led by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), was announced during a Federal National Council session, where Minister Abdul Rahman Al Owais confirmed that the electronic Emirates ID is already in use for many services, and the ICP will now prioritise wider adoption in key areas. The new system will be integrated into the UAEPASS app, the UAE's national digital identity, which already allows users to access official documents securely through facial recognition. The ICP will work closely with sector partners to expand biometric capabilities while ensuring compliance with data protection laws.
Hi Dubai
17-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE to Replace Physical Emirates IDs with Biometric-Based Digital System
The UAE is set to eliminate the need for physical Emirates ID cards by rolling out a new digital identification system within a year, authorities announced during a recent Federal National Council (FNC) session. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) confirmed it is expanding the use of e-Emirates IDs in key sectors such as banking, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications. The upgraded system will rely on biometric and facial recognition technologies to streamline identity verification, reducing reliance on physical documents. FNC member Adnan Al Hammadi raised concerns over the continued demand for physical Emirates IDs, highlighting issues faced by residents across essential services. 'There is an urgent need for fast, effective solutions,' he said, citing difficulties in hospitals, banks, and hotels that still require original ID cards. Responding to the concerns, Minister of State for FNC Affairs Abdul Rahman Al Owais stated that e-Emirates ID is already active across various services and will be prioritised in the sectors highlighted by the FNC. The digital identity initiative will be powered by the UAEPASS app, which allows residents to securely access a range of government and private services. Launched during GITEX 2021, UAEPASS already supports facial recognition and offers access to digital documents, including Emirates IDs. ICP emphasized that the rollout will be guided by robust data protection standards and inter-agency collaboration to ensure secure and reliable identity verification across platforms. The move marks a major step in the UAE's digital transformation agenda, aimed at simplifying and securing service access for all residents. News Source: Khaleej Times
The National
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Weekly UAE museum and gallery guide: Art at The Dubai Balloon and a play inspired by Thousand and One Nights
This week's events and exhibitions are inspired by the holy month, thematically reflecting on the traditions and spirit of Ramadan. From an exhibition in Sharjah dedicated to the history of calligraphy to a curated programme at Alserkal Avenue that includes workshops, music and a theatrical interpretation of The Thousand and One Nights, there is much to admire. Here is what to look out for this weekend. Eternal Letters: Qur'an Manuscripts from the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Collection is an exhibition that focuses on the history and religious significance of Arabic calligraphy. The exhibition presents 81 Quranic manuscripts that have never been shown to the public before. The manuscripts come from across the Islamic world and exhibit the breadth of calligraphic styles that emerged from China, Turkey, Iran, and the Mediterranean, among other places. The works cover more than a millennia of Islamic history and are part of the private collection of Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, the UAE Minister of Health and Prevention. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation is also holding a Ramadan-themed programme between Thursday and Sunday. Ramadan Lamma includes workshops on drawing lanterns with acrylic, illuminating letters with gold leaf as well as making prayer beads. Until May 25; Saturday to Thursday; 9am to 2pm, 9pm to 11pm; Sharjah Echoes of the Crescent is an art exhibition in an unconventional but beautiful setting. Taking place until March 30 at The Dubai Balloon, the exhibition features works by three artists living in the UAE: Haneen Al Rifai, Maria Munteanu and Sana Maarrawi. The installations and paintings that are exhibited reflect on motifs of Arabic traditions, from calligraphy, falconry and chivalry to the hospitality that the culture is renowned for. The exhibition is accessible through the purchase of a ticket to The Dubai Balloon, which starts at Dh175 for adults and Dh75 for children. Until March 30; Monday to Sunday; 6-11am, 6pm to 12pm; Dubai Thousand and One Nights is one of history's most influential literary works, having inspired everyone from Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Naguib Mahfouz to Waciny Laredj. The timeless tales told by Scheherazade to the ruler Shahryar are well known not only in the Middle East, but around the world. Its stories have inspired films, television shows as well as songs. A play based on the story will now being shown at Dubai's The Junction. The production is an original script written and directed by Rasika Agashe, an Indian actress known for films and series including Pet Puraan and Three of Us. Tickets are set at Dh120 per person. The play comes as part of a Ramadan programme at Alserkal Avenue entitled Interrupting Patterns. The programme takes place over two weekends, on Saturday and Sunday, then again on March 15 and 16. It includes storytelling events for children as well as workshops in tatreez and comic book illustration. Saturday and Sunday, 8.30pm, The Junction, Dubai
