Latest news with #GulfTimes
Mint
2 days ago
- Mint
On Eid holiday with family, Indian techie dies in diving accident at Dubai's Jumeirah Beach
An Indian expatriate died during a scuba diving session off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai on Friday. The deceased, identified as Issac Paul Olakkengil, was 29 years old. According to Gulf Times, Issac, originally from Kerala, was in Dubai with his family for the Eid Al Adha holidays. A civil engineer by profession, he had been working in the UAE. Issac had gone diving with his wife Reshma and younger brother Ivin in a designated training area. During the session, he reportedly suffered a heart attack after facing difficulty in breathing. 'It seems they were getting trained for scuba diving, and apparently, he \[Issac] couldn't breathe properly and moved away from the pack,' said Pyarilos Davis, a relative, while speaking to Gulf News. 'So, everyone panicked and was impacted under water. I was told Reshma was rescued to the shore first, followed by the other two,' he added. Issac was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be revived. His brother Ivin also collapsed during the incident and is currently under medical observation. 'He is out of danger,' confirmed Pyarilos. 'All of them are engineers. While Issac and Reshma are in Dubai, Ivin is based in Abu Dhabi. Ivin's friends just told me they are concerned about breaking this heart-wrenching news to him, as the brothers shared a strong bond,' Pyarilos said. Ivin was informed of his brother's death only on Saturday. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and have seized the equipment used during the dive. The family is now working with police officials on repatriating Issac's body. 'We are working with the authorities to repatriate his mortal remains after we receive the necessary legal documents,' said Pyarilos.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Indian engineer, 29, dies while scuba diving off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai
An Indian man died while scuba diving off Jumeirah Beach in Dubai on Friday. The deceased was identified as Issac Paul Olakkengil. According to a report in Gulf Times, Issac was enjoying Eid Al Adha holidays in Dubai with his family when tragedy struck. During a scuba diving session off Jumeirah Beach on Friday, Issac suffered a heart attack and could not be revived, his family said. He was only 29 years old. A civil engineer originally from Kerala, Issac had been working as a civil engineer in the UAE. On Friday, he and his wife Reshma, along with Issac's younger brother Ivin, had gone to Jumeirah Beach for a scuba diving session. The death occurred during training. Pyarilos Davis, a relative of Issac, told Gulf News that the trio were in a designated training area when Issac faced difficulty breathing and moved away from the group. 'It seems they were getting trained for scuba diving, and apparently, he [Issac] couldn't breathe properly and moved away from the pack,' said Pyarilos. 'So, everyone panicked and was impacted under water. I was told Reshma was rescued to the shore first, followed by the other two.' Issac reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest after facing breathing trouble. He was rushed to a hospital nearby but could not be saved. Ivin, his brother, also collapsed and is currently under observation. 'He is out of danger,' said Pyarilos of Ivin. 'All of them are engineers. While Issac and Reshma are in Dubai, Ivin is based in Abu Dhabi. Ivin's friends just told me they are concerned about breaking this heart-wrenching news to him, as the brothers shared a strong bond,' said Pyarilos. Ivin was informed of his brother's death only on Saturday. The family is now working with the police. An investigation has been launched into the incident and equipment used in the scuba diving session has been seized. 'We are working with the authorities to repatriate his mortal remains after we receive the necessary legal documents,' said Pyarilos.
Zawya
10-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar food security strategy eyes up to eight months' reserve
The Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2030 aims to maintain a strategic reserve of essential food items for two to eight months, a senior official of the Ministry of Municipality said. 'We are establishing a strategic reserve of select commodities so that we can cater for the needs of the community," Hamad Hadi al-Hajri, assistant director of Food Security Department, told Gulf Times. "The strategic reserve was designed very carefully so that we can have enough supply that can cover for a specific period,' he explained. He was speaking on the sidelines of the International Conference on Water and Food Security in the Face of Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Resilience organised by the University of Doha for Science and Technology recently. 'We have the basic commodity basket which includes wheat, rice, sugar, edible oils and other stuff. The storage range for them is between two to eight months, depending on the commodity, as this can serve as an insurance against supply chain shocks. We are also enhancing the scope of the strategic reserve,' al-Hajri stated. The main objective of the reserve is make sure that the food supply chain is not affected due to any external reasons. 'We know that we live in a very dynamic world and environment. There can be situations such as geopolitical tensions, biosecurity issues, disruption in the supply chain or in the market that could affect the food system and we are making sure that the food supply chain can sustain with the strategic storage. The basic idea within the strategy is: whatever we can store that have an extended shelf life, we will create a reserve,' he said. According to al-Hajri, the Qatar National Food Security Strategy 2030 is based on 17 initiatives across three pillars. The three pillars are: domestic production and markets; strategic storage reserve and alert system and International trade and investment. 'The strategy is to continue the efforts that we have done in the past and build upon all of those efforts. We have made a huge improvement in the local production, establishing reserve stock for basic commodities and also we are trying to diversify trade and investments. So these three are the main pillars of the strategy,' he said. Al-Hajri said that within the domestic production, the country is focusing on enhancing the production of vegetables, fresh poultry, fresh red meat, eggs, dairy products and fisheries as well. 'The strategy also aims to enhance the productivity, yield and the sustainability of the local production. This is to make sure that the production will continue in case of any disturbance in the supply chain with the agricultural input,' he noted. The official pointed out that the government is trying to enhance the productivity and the economic returns for the farmers. 'We focus on key selected commodities such as vegetables. We also look for other commodities. In case there is a viable and feasible case and good return in the commercial market, we support that. We provide different kinds of subsidies so that the local and small farmers and breeders can sustain themselves financially.' © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
28-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Old Doha Port drives record tourism growth
Qatar - The Old Doha Port has strengthened its position as a major economic driver for Qatar, witnessing a 38% surge in visitor numbers this cruise season, the port's CEO, Mohamed Abdulla al-Mulla, told Gulf Times. Such growth, he stressed, highlights the port's key role in the nation's strategy to become a global tourism and cultural hub, aligning well with Qatar National Vision 2030. Al-Mulla noted that the port received more than 378,000 cruise passengers this season, a significant leap from the 253,191 visitors in the 2022/2023 season. This, he pointed out, demonstrates its increasing popularity as a premier maritime destination. The number of cruise ships docking at the port also rose to 73, marking a 33% increase compared to the previous season, he added. 'Old Doha Port is a cornerstone in Qatar's strategy to become a leading global destination for tourism and cultural exchange... By seamlessly blending modernity with heritage, the port elevates Qatar's maritime identity while fostering economic growth,' al-Mulla said. The port's state-of-the-art terminal, recognised by Forbes as one of the world's most beautiful, can accommodate up to 12,000 passengers across two mega cruise ships. This capacity is backed by expedited visa-free entry for more than 100 nationalities, ensuring a smooth and welcoming experience for international travellers, he noted. The terminal also features a marine aquarium and the interactive City Gallery, giving visitors an immediate taste of Qatar's culture upon arrival. According to al-Mulla, the port embraces Qatar's heritage through its design, incorporating traditional motifs such as lamp posts resembling fishing hooks, intricate floor patterns, mosaics at Chabrat Al Mina, and carved designs on benches and bollards. The Mina District, reminiscent of historic coastal cities such as Al Wakrah and Al Khor, hosts more than 70 retail outlets and 50 restaurants, providing a unique blend of cultural experiences and modern amenities. Overall, the Old Doha Port has 100 retail units, including the containers yard. Al-Mulla highlighted the port's significant contribution in supporting cultural tourism, collaborating with organisations such as Qatar Museums, where it hosted the second Middle East edition of the World Wide Walls (WWW) international mural festival in 2023. Some 13 local, regional, and international artists transformed the Mina District into an open-air art gallery, showcasing Qatar's vibrant cultural diversity. He said the recreational spaces at Mina Parks, covering more than 300,000sqm, significantly enhance the visitor experience. These include lush greenery, outdoor fitness facilities, a 5-km jogging track, and a 5-km cycling track, promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental sustainability. The 8-km wooden promenade, directly connected to the Doha Corniche, further enriches the recreational offerings. Apart from tourism, al-Mulla said the port fosters economic diversification by boosting revenue, creating local job opportunities, and attracting international investment. By hosting events like the annual Qatar Boat Show, the port underlines Qatar's maritime expertise and establishes itself as a leader in the maritime tourism sector. 'Through its diverse offerings, cultural initiatives, and global connectivity, Old Doha Port embodies Qatar's ambitions to be a global hub for tourism and culture,' he said. 'It serves as a vibrant gateway that connects the past with the future, contributing to the nation's sustainable development and international prominence'. © Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
