Latest news with #AhmedbinSaeed
Time Out Dubai
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai cashless strategy: Why Dubai is moving on from physical money
Dubai big plans to eventually become a cashless city. The Dubai cashless strategy will eventually mean that all payments in the city across the government and private sectors will go digital. The initiative, first announced in October 2024, aims to ditch notes and coins for digital payments throughout the emirate. Cashless transactions are expected to hit around 90 percent of all transactions by 2026, potentially boosting economic growth by over Dhs8 billion annually. Becoming cashless does not mean that money will be abandoned altogether but, instead, payments will be digital with banking apps and credit cards currently the main way to pay without physical notes or coins. The strategy will also prioritise innovations in digital payments, including AI-driven solutions and contactless technologies to offer even more ways to pay. And the latest development by DIFC and Dubai Finance means that there will be specialised workshops to help businesses make the switch. The collab will also bring AI-driven initiatives that add value for workers, tourists and the broader community by adopting digital payments. In the presence of Ahmed bin Saeed, Dubai Finance signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dubai International Financial Centre to support the implementation of the Dubai Cashless Strategy. The agreement focuses on the strategy's three core pillars—governance, innovation, and… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 16, 2025 The city plans for 100 percent of stores to accept digital payments and for everyone living in the city to be able to pay digitally. That's right, bartering at the souq with notes or rummaging around the back of the sofa for long-lost change could soon be a thing of the past. The Dubai Cashless Strategy was initially revealed late on Tuesday October 1 following a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, chaired that meeting, outlining that the city aims to make itself one of the top five cashless cities in the world. .@HamdanMohammed chairs @TECofDubai's meeting; approves the Education Strategy 2033, the Real Estate Strategy 2033 and Dubai Cashless Strategy. — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 1, 2024 Dubai has also outlined that it wants to make a range of financial technology services available to people in the city. The plan to make the switch to becoming cashless has been brought about with consumers, payment service providers and merchants in mind with the move set to have a wider benefit of convenience and speedier payments throughout the emirate. At the meeting, the city also discussed its overarching real estate strategies, plans for education and the future of transport in Dubai. If you've got some spare pennies and have no idea what to do with them, then check out our guide on what to do with Dhs1 in Dubai. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list 50 free things to do in Dubai Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
Time Out Dubai
16-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai cashless strategy: Dubai Finance and DIFC sign strategic partnership
Dubai has revealed big plans to eventually become a cashless city. The Dubai cashless strategy will eventually mean that all payments in the city across government and private sectors will go digital. A big step forward in the plans came on Friday May 16 2025, as Dubai Finance and DIFC signed an agreement to support the cashless strategy. The initiative, first announced in October 2024, aims to ditch notes and coins for digital payments throughout the emirate. Cashless transactions are hoped to hit around 90 percent of all transactions by 2026, potentially boosting economic growth by over Dhs8 billion annually. Becoming cashless does not mean that money will be abandoned altogether but, instead, payments will be digital with banking apps and credit cards currently the main way to pay without physical notes or coins. The strategy will also prioritise innovations in digital payments, including AI-driven solutions and contactless technologies to offer even more ways to pay. And the latest development by DIFC and Dubai Finance means that there will be specialised workshops to help businesses make the switch. The collab will also bring AI-driven initiatives that add value for workers, tourists and the broader community by adopting digital payments. In the presence of Ahmed bin Saeed, Dubai Finance signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dubai International Financial Centre to support the implementation of the Dubai Cashless Strategy. The agreement focuses on the strategy's three core pillars—governance, innovation, and… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 16, 2025 The city plans for 100 percent of stores to accept digital payments and for everyone living in the city to be able to pay digitally. That's right, bartering at the souq with notes or rummaging around the back of the sofa for long-lost change could soon be a thing of the past. The Dubai Cashless Strategy was initially revealed late on Tuesday October 1 following a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, chaired that meeting, outlining that the city aims to make itself one of the top five cashless cities in the world. .@HamdanMohammed chairs @TECofDubai's meeting; approves the Education Strategy 2033, the Real Estate Strategy 2033 and Dubai Cashless Strategy. — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 1, 2024 Dubai has also outlined that it wants to make a range of financial technology services available to people in the city. The plan to make the switch to becoming cashless has been brought about with consumers, payment service providers and merchants in mind with the move set to have a wider benefit of convenience and speedier payments throughout the emirate. At the meeting, the city also discussed its overarching real estate strategies, plans for education and the future of transport in Dubai. If you've got some spare pennies and have no idea what to do with them, then check out our guide on what to do with Dhs1 in Dubai. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list 50 free things to do in Dubai Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
Time Out Dubai
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Emirates employees are getting a *huge* bonus and we're impressed
Emirates Airline will award its employees with a bonus equivalent to 22 weeks' salary, it has been announced. Following on from a year of 'record financial results', the Emirates Group has confirmed that staff will be rewarded with a hefty bonus in their upcoming pay packet. Impressively, Emirates has committed big bonuses to its ever-growing workforce for three years running. (Credit: Emirates) A 20-week bonus was awarded to employees in 2024, and in 2023, over 50,000 Emirates workers received a 24-week bonus. The announcement comes after Emirates reported a profit of Dh19.06 billion for the year ending in March, up 10.6 percent from last year, thanks to strong demand for long-haul travel despite global challenges. You might also like: 8 major Emirates updates that could impact your next holiday Emirates Group, which also includes airport services provider dnata, also grew its workforce by nine percent to 121,223 employees. The group hopes to recruit 1,500 new pilots within two years. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group, proudly shared, 'Since Emirates was established, we've returned a profit every year except in 1986-87, and during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020-21 to 2021-22.' The historic profit figures come after Emirates itself was awarded a Certified Autism Centre Designation for its commitment to making check-in more accessible to people with autism. The certification was given in recognition of the steps the airline has taken towards making travel more inclusive for neurodivergent people. Every Dubai check-in facility, including at terminal three in Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the inner-city locations, has received the certification. The facilities can be found at the Emirates City Check-in and Travel Store in DIFC, Emirates Cruise Check-In – Port Rashid, Emirates Cruise Check-In – Dubai Harbour and Emirates City Check-In Ajman. The check-ins are away from the stress of the airport environment and allow customers to book up to 24 hours in advance, drop off luggage and even make use of robot-assisted check-ins. Emirates staff have also received specialised training on autism and sensory awareness to allow them to understand the needs of autistic travellers or those with sensory sensitivities. Flying from Dubai soon? 10 things you didn't know about flying with Emirates Hold on to your boarding pass The best airline stopover deals to take advantage of Free day in Paris anyone? Emirates launches new daily route to top destination And it takes off so soon
Emirates 24/7
07-05-2025
- Health
- Emirates 24/7
Dubai Health Board reviews three-year milestones in advancing patient-centred care
Chaired by Ahmed bin Saeed and attended by Mansoor bin Mohammed, Dubai Health Board reviewed three-year milestones in advancing patient-centred care. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health, chaired a meeting of Dubai Health's Board of Directors, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health, to review Dubai Health's achievements over the past three years and their impact on improvements to access to care and the patient experience. The meeting, held at Dubai Health's headquarters, was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Professor Sir Ian Andrew Greer, His Excellency Walid Saeed Al Awadhi, Mohammed Hassan Al Shehhi, Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health, and Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, representing the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). At the outset of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum welcomed the board members and commended their efforts to foster a culture of continuous improvement of healthcare services in Dubai. He acknowledged their contributions to enhancing the quality of services in ways that have positively impacted patient experience and satisfaction. He said: 'Dubai Health's achievements over the past three years reflect our commitment to placing patients at the heart of every improvement and transformation. These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our teams and represent a key step towards fulfilling the goals of Dubai Social Agenda 33 — establishing a sustainable, and people-centred health system that prioritises well-being. His Highness expressed his appreciation to the teams across Dubai Health for their dedication, which contributed to achieving a customer happiness score of over 90% in the 2024 Dubai Government Customer Happiness Index - a reflection of Dubai Health's commitment to delivering integrated, high-quality healthcare services. Following the meeting, Their Highnesses toured Dubai Health's Operations Center, where they were briefed on the Patient Journey Redesign Program — a strategic initiative to enhance care delivery across the integrated academic health system. Advancing through continuous improvement His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum described the progress in patient care delivery as a transformative shift in how healthcare is provided across the city. He noted that these efforts reflect a forward-looking vision to offer a seamless care experience for all members of society. He said: 'We believe that the continuous enhancement of our healthcare services requires scientific research — a cornerstone for achieving excellence in the quality of care. Our aim is to deliver a future-ready patient journey, aligned with the needs and expectations of our community. This vision reinforces Dubai's global standing as a hub for healthcare innovation and excellence.' Dr. Amer Sharif, CEO of Dubai Health, reaffirmed Dubai Health's commitment to building an integrated academic health system that places the patient at its core, guided by global best practices. He emphasised the importance of the community's inputs in shaping healthcare services, noting that public feedback on healthcare experiences has become a key pillar in driving improvement efforts. Initiatives such as the launch of the Press Ganey patient experience programme and the 'Dubai Health Majalis: Voice of the Community' reflect Dubai Health's commitment to listening closely to the community and meeting them where they are — in alignment with the objectives of the Year of Community 2025. Health Operations Center overview During the tour of the Health Operations Center, Khalifa Baqer, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Health, presented a comprehensive overview of progress achieved from 2022 to 2024. He noted measurable growth in patient-focused services, aligned with Dubai Health's primary value of 'Patient First'. Community Health Services: Dubai Health recorded significant growth in community healthcare services, with performance indicators improving across the board. Medicine home deliveries increased by 189% to approximately 109,000 in 2024, compared to 37,724 in 2022. Patient Transport Services: As part of efforts to enhance service quality and improve access to medical care, Dubai Health launched the Patient Transport Service to offer dedicated transportation for patients between their homes and healthcare facilities for appointments and treatments, ensuring safe and convenient access to care. The service aims to offer patients a more comfortable and dignified healthcare experience, reinforcing the principles of hospitality within the health sector. Launched just two years ago, the service has seen a strong uptake, with the number of beneficiaries rising from 862 in 2023 to 5,365 in 2024. Home Care: The medical home visits programme saw a 68% increase in visits over three years, reaching a total of 90,816 visits — up from 23,277 in 2022 to 39,114 in 2024. This reflects Dubai Health's commitment to delivering care that is accessible, consistent, and centred around patient comfort. Telemedicine: From 2022 to 2024, Dubai Health delivered 256,350 teleconsultation services, reflecting a 17.7% increase. The number of services rose from 78,969 in 2022 to 92,930 in 2024, supporting the goals of Dubai's Digital Strategy. Call Center operations: Approximately 5 million calls were professionally managed over three years, demonstrating high levels of responsiveness and operational readiness in meeting community healthcare needs. Redesigning the patient journey Dubai Health's Patient Journey Redesign Program is designed to follow the patient's care pathway from entry into the system to treatment completion, ensuring a seamless and coordinated experience across all stages of care. The initiative focuses on optimising 45 priority care pathways — covering approximately 68% of the patient population — including emergency, specialised, and preventive care journeys. Developed in direct response to community feedback and insights regarding healthcare experiences, the initiative aligns cross-disciplinary efforts and leverages data to reinforce Dubai Health's future readiness and commitment to delivering integrated, high-impact services. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
05-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Airport Show 2025 reveals US$1trln expansion projects in the Middle East, Africa and South Asian markets
Ahmed bin Saeed: Dubai's aviation sector will continue soar in line with economic growth The Middle East region will handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040 Airport Show 2025 to run at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 6 to May 8, 2025 MEASA's largest airport industry B2B platform to draw over 6,000 attendees from 30 countries Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The 24th edition of the Airport Show opens tomorrow (May 6) at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with the participation of experts, aviation stakeholders, decision-makers, airport operators, and other players of the airport industry along with top-rung government officials. The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. Over three days, from May 6 to May 8, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia's (MEASA) largest airport industry B2B platform, is due to draw over 6,000 attendees from more than 30 countries, to explore innovations and technologies that shape future airports including advances in enhancing the passenger experience, airport traffic management, airport carbon-reduction and sustainability, digitalization, and Urban Air Mobility (UAM). This edition is being attended by more than 140 exhibitors from 20+ countries who will meet, network and do business with highly-qualified 50+ buyers from over 70 organisations from 30 countries. Confirmed buyers are coming from airports, airlines, ground handlers and consultants from Armenia, Bahrain, Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, India, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi. Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said, 'Dubai International (DXB) has retained its position as the world's leading airport for international passengers for the 11th consecutive year, and traffic across both our airports continues to grow steadily. Our aviation sector, from airports and airlines to the wider infrastructure, is a key pillar of Dubai's economic progress and global reach. He added: 'We have made consistent investments to expand and upgrade our airports, strengthening Dubai's role as a global gateway. Over the past two decades, Dubai has provided the ideal environment for the Airport Show to grow into a prominent industry platform, a reflection of the city's broader role in shaping the future of global aviation. With the planned expansion of Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), we are now setting the stage for a new era of global benchmarks in airport development. His Highness recalled: 'Beginning in 2001, I have seen the Airport Show grow leaps and bounds evolving over the years into the MEASA region's largest airport industry B2B platform. It offers key stakeholders, policy makers and technical decision-makers an opportunity to network, exchange knowledge and gain insights, and discuss growth opportunities and challenges facing the aviation industry. The 24th edition of the Airport Show will undoubtedly take the collaborative journey of growth to new levels.' H.E. Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, said: "We at the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority are pleased to participate in Airport Show 2025, a global platform bringing together aviation leaders and experts from around the world.' 'Our participation reflects our commitment to strengthening Dubai's position as a leading global aviation hub through innovation, best practices, and a focus on safety, security, and sustainability. We believe that collaboration and knowledge exchange are key drivers of progress, and we look forward to engaging with our partners and exploring opportunities that support the growth of this vital sector,' he added. The Show is designed to serve the US$1 trillion airport development market in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. Airports in the Middle East region will handle 1.1 billion passengers by 2040. Africa is focusing on expanding existing hubs and building new airports to become a major aviation hub. According to CAPA-Centre of Aviation, there are now24 infrastructure projects at existing airports in Africa, to a value of US$2.3 billion, or US$96 million each on average. In Ethiopia, a new airport is under construction to handle 60 million passengers annually by 2040, aiming to become the largest in Africa. In Senegal, Blaise Diagne International Airport is under construction in two phases, with a final capacity of 10 million passengers per year. Rwanda's new US$650 million Kigali Airport is under construction. South Asia is witnessing rapid expansion and modernization of airports, particularly in India. The world's most populous country plans to build over 220 new airports by 2035. India's airport sector is expected to attract about US$12 billion) in investment by 2030 for developing greenfield airports, expanding existing facilities, and upgrading infrastructure at existing airports. Special focus at the world-class gathering will on the US$35 billion development of Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA-DWC), with a final a capacity of 260 million passengers upon completion. Saudi Arabia, targeting 300 million passengers by 2030, is constructing the US$50-billion mega hub in Riyadh. These two giant projects take up almost 80 percent of spending on airport development across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). On its sidelines will be two conferences – Global Airport Leaders' Forum, and Women in Aviation Middle East Conference- with 30+ sessions and 70+ aviation leaders and expert speakers. The 12th Global Airport Leader's Forum (GALF) designed to take forward the aviation knowledge-enhancement agenda with keynote speeches from Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), and Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of Engineering, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP). The exhibition will be a go-to destination for experiencing and procuring newest innovations and trend-setting technologies, as well as signing deals that enable airports to achieve exemplary growth. The GALF will see 50+ aviation, policy makers, airport business leaders, and technology experts to foster meaningful engagement and knowledge sharing on critical challenges and growth opportunities in the technology-driven world. Airport Show is organized by RX, a global company that organizes about 350 events across the world, to provide participants valuable insights into issues and technologies shaping the airports in the ever-evolving competitive global business landscape. May Ismail, Event Manager at RX Middle East, invited airport industry professionals to utilize the Airport Show (10 AM to 5 PM) and its conferences including GALF to 'refresh and reenergize' their knowledge and technical skills. The participants can meet several key players including those from Honeywell, emaratech, Smiths Detection, ADB SAFEGATE, NAFFCO, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Dar Al Handasah, and Artelia Aviation Information Technology Company. The unparalleled networking and sourcing platform will offer a multitude of knowledge-enhancing and networking opportunities to foster collaboration and professional growth. The business-to-business (B2B) show will provide airport industry stakeholders insights into the latest technology trends and opportunities to build strong business relationships, along with being a window for showcasing and promoting products and services. Airport Show 2025 is set to deliver an enhanced experience with the launch of exciting new features, including the GSE Zone, Airport Tech Pavilion, and Airport Design Hub. This year's event continues to enjoy the strong backing of key aviation authorities and organizations, supported by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Emirates Airline and Group, dans and dnata. Leading industry players have also come on board as event partners and sponsors. Amadeus leads as the event's Strategic Partner, with Schneider Electric joining as Technology Partner. Gold Sponsor Waisl has joined sponsors Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), Smiths Detection and ADB SAFEGATE. The ATC Forum benefits from the support of both Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) and Global Air Navigation Services (GANS), while the Airport Security Forum is backed by Dubai Police. Airport Show 2025 is collaborating with several leading associations, including the Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, the Contractors Association, the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG), and the Dubai Airline Operators Committee (DAOC). By 2050, approximately 66.7 million Baby Boomers will travel by air in the Middle East. The Middle Eastern airports will require US$151 billion in investments by 2040 to handle an expected surge in passenger numbers. The Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.4 percent traffic rise in 2024, with capacity increasing 8.4 percent and load factor rising to 80.8 percent. About RX: RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit About RELX RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at For media enquiries, please contact: Ghassan Amhaz Media Consultant Nadd Al Shiba PR & Event Management Phone: +971 50 6441721 / +971 4 2527959 Email: ghassansuleiman@
