Latest news with #OrderofZayed
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed confers First-Class Order of Zayed II on US Ambassador Martina Strong
UAE President awarded the prestigious First-Class Order of Zayed II to Martina Strong, outgoing US Ambassador/Image: WAM TL;DR: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan awarded the prestigious First-Class Order of Zayed II to Martina Strong , outgoing US Ambassador, honouring her contributions to UAE-US relations . The First-Class Order of Zayed II is the UAE's one of the highest honour, given to leaders and diplomats for exceptional service advancing the nation's interests and global standing. Martina Strong, a seasoned diplomat, was recognized for strengthening security, economic, and cultural ties during her tenure in the UAE, exemplifying the award's significance. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the prestigious First-Class Order of Zayed II on Martina Strong, the outgoing Ambassador of the United States to the UAE. The honour, presented to Ambassador Strong in a formal ceremony by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, recognizes her significant contributions to strengthening and advancing the strategic relationship between the United Arab Emirates and the United States during her tenure. Ambassador Strong expressed deep appreciation, emphasizing the enduring partnership between the two nations. What is the First Class Order of Zayed II? The First Class Order of Zayed II is one of the highest civilian honours the United Arab Emirates bestows. It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country's founding father, and is traditionally granted to foreign diplomats, senior officials, dignitaries, and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service in strengthening the UAE's bilateral relationships or have rendered notable service to the nation. This award is separate from the Order of Zayed, which is the UAE's highest civil decoration, usually reserved for heads of state and national leaders. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo It is awarded to individuals, often heads of state, officials, and diplomats, who have rendered distinguished service to the UAE or significantly contributed to the nation's development, security, and international relations. The honour represents the utmost recognition from the UAE government and embodies the values and vision of Sheikh Zayed. The First Class Order of Zayed II is recognized for its ornate gold insignia symbolizing Emirati heritage and service. Its recipients are carefully selected based on documented contributions to diplomacy, international cooperation, or national progress relevant to the UAE. Here are several notable past recipients of the First Class Order of Zayed II, which is among the United Arab Emirates' highest civilian honours, awarded for exceptional service in strengthening UAE relations or major contributions to global or national causes: Navdeep Singh Suri (2019): Outgoing Indian Ambassador to the UAE, honoured for his role in fostering UAE–India diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties. Dan Jørgensen (2024): Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, honoured for his vital role in the success of COP28 hosted in the UAE Prof. Saleemul Huq (posthumously, 2024) : A member of the COP28 Advisory Committee, awarded for his outstanding efforts in operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund for climate action. About Martina Strong: Martina Strong is an American diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to the UAE beginning in 2023. A seasoned career diplomat, her previous roles included Charge d'Affaires in Saudi Arabia, Deputy Chief of Mission in Bulgaria, and key assignments in Baghdad, Basra, and other significant postings. During her two-year tenure in the UAE, Ambassador Strong played a leading role in enhancing security, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries. She is recognized for her diplomatic acumen, advancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors including defense, trade, and people-to-people engagement. Award significance and context: The First Class Order of Zayed II, conferred on Strong, is a mark of the UAE's deep appreciation for her effective efforts in promoting strategic cooperation, security dialogue, and economic collaboration during her mission. Previous recipients of this award include senior foreign envoys, dignitaries, and diplomats who have played key roles in fostering bilateral and multilateral partnerships with the UAE. The timing of this award underscores the UAE's commitment to formal diplomatic recognition and celebrates the strengthened ties achieved during Ambassador Strong's stewardship. By receiving the First Class Order of Zayed II, Martina Strong joins a distinguished group of diplomats and leaders honoured by the UAE for their service in advancing the country's international interests and bilateral relationships. The award ceremony represents not only a personal accolade but also a broader testament to the robust and enduring ties between the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Mint
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
In a decade of diplomacy, PM Modi honoured by 25 countries — latest from Ghana and Trinidad & Tobago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-nation tour, was conferred with highest civilian honours 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Friday and 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana' on Wednesday. He has 25 international prestigious awards over a span of decade. Trinidad and Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo presented it at President's House in St Ann's, outside the capital Port of Spain, marking such as first honour of a foreign leader, whereas Ghana President John Dramani Mahama welcomed him at Jubilee House in Accra for a delegation-level meeting. He became the first Indian PM in 30 years to visit the West African country. Saudi Arabia conferred King Abdulaziz Sash on April 3 , 2016. Afghanistan honoured State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan on June 4 , 2016. Palestine awarded Grand Collar of the State of Palestine on February 10, 2018. Maldives conferred Order of Nishan Izzuddeen on June 8, 2019. UAE honoured Order of Zayed on August 24, 2019. Bahrain awarded King Hamad Order of the Renaissance on August 24, 2019. 7. United States honoured Legion of Merit on December, 2020. 8. Russia conferred Order of StAndrew the Apostle on July 9, 2024. 9. Bhutan awarded Order of the Druk Gyalpo on March 22, 2024 10. Papua New Guinea honoured Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu on May 22, 2023 11. Fiji conferred Companion of the Order of Fiji on May 22, 2023. 12. Palau honoured the Ebakl Award in May 2023. 13. Egypt conferred the Order of the Nile on June 25, 2023. 14. France awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour on July 13, 2023. 15. Greece honoured the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour on August 25, 2023. 16. Nigeria conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on November 18, 2024. 17. Dominica awarded Dominica Award of Honour on November 20, 2024. 18. Guyana honoured the Order of Excellence on November 20, 2024. 19. Barbados conferred the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados on November 20, 2024. 20. Kuwait gave the Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer on December 22, 2024. 21. Mauritius awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key on March 11, 2025. 22. Sri Lanka honoured the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana in April 2025. 23. Cyprus conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III on June 16, 2025. 24. Ghana awarded the The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana' on July 2. 25. Trinidad and Tobago honoured the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on July 4, 2025. Meanwhile, PM Modi is scheduled to have a bilateral discussion with Argentina President Javier Milei on matters like mining, defence, agriculture, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment. He will travel to Brazil to participate in the 17th BRICS Summit after a state visit. The final leg of his tour is Namibia.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Cyprus presents one of its highest civilian honours to PM Modi
Cyprus on Monday awarded the Order of Makarios III, one of the country's highest civilian honours, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the award as a symbol of peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Cypriot President Nikos Christodulides conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, the second highest of six grades of the award, on Modi at an official ceremony on the second day of his visit to the Mediterranean country. Modi dedicated the award to the friendship between the two countries. 'I dedicate this award to friendly ties, shared values and mutual understanding between India and Cyprus,' he said, speaking in Hindi. 'This award is a symbol of peace, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity and our unbreakable commitment to our peoples' prosperity.' Modi said he believed the active partnership between India and Cyprus will touch new heights in the coming days. 'We will not only jointly strengthen the progress of our countries but will work together to build a peaceful and secure global environment,' he said. He said the award is an honour for 1.4 billion Indians and their aspirations, and thanked Christodulides and the government and people of Cyprus. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post: 'The honour reflects the enduring India-Cyprus bilateral partnership and shared commitment to work together for the common vision for peace, progress and prosperity.' Notable recipients of the Order of Makarios III, named after the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, include former president Pranab Mukherjee, King Abdullah II of Jordan, former German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Modi has received state honours from close to 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia's Order of King Abdul Aziz, the Order of the State of Palestine, the UAE's Order of Zayed, the Order of Fiji, and Egypt's Order of the Nile.
Welcome Qatar
22-05-2025
- Business
- Welcome Qatar
Did Trump really strike Gulf deals worth $2tn?
Did Trump really strike Gulf deals worth $2tn? 1 day ago Share Save Sameer Hashmi Business reporter Reporting fromJeddah Getty Images Donald Trump waves with one hand as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stands behind himGetty Images Trump started the four-day visit in Saudi Arabia where deals worth $600bn were announced Flying home from his Gulf trip last week, President Donald Trump told reporters 'that was a great four days, historic four days'. Visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he added in this trademark swagger that 'the jobs and money coming into our countries, there has never been anything like it'. Trump claimed that he was able to secure deals totalling more than $2tn (£1.5tn) for the US, but do the numbers add up? The trip itself was an extravaganza, with the three Gulf states pulling out all the stops. Escorts of fighter jets, extravagant welcoming ceremonies, a thundering 21-gun salute, a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks, royal camels, Arabian horses, and sword dancers were all part of the pageantry. The UAE also awarded Mr Trump the country's highest civilian honour, the Order of Zayed. The visit's optics were striking; the region's richest petrostates flaunted their opulence, revealing just how much of that fortune they were ready to deploy to strengthen ties with the US while advancing their own economic goals. Ros Atkins on… Trump's deals in the Gulf Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US What did Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia reveal? Before embarking on the trip, President Trump, who touts himself as a 'dealmaker in chief' was clear that the main objective of the trip was to land investments worth billions of dollars. On the face of it, he succeeded. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated a pledge to invest $600bn in US-Saudi partnerships. There were a plethora of deals announced as part of this, encompassing arms, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, infrastructure projects and science collaborations, and various security ties and initiatives. The $142bn defence deal grabbed a lot of the attention as it was described by the White House as the largest arms deal ever. However, there remains some doubt as to whether those investment figures are realistic. During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump had announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to $450bn in deals with the US. But actual trade and investment flows amounted to less than $300bn between 2017 to 2020, according to data compiled by the Arab Gulf States Institute. The report was authored by Tim Callen, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief to Saudi Arabia, and now a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. 'The proof with all of these [new] deals will be in the pudding,' says Mr Callen. The BBC contacted the White House for comment. Getty Images Trump walking through a guard of honour with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon landing in RiyadhGetty Images President Trump was given a welcome fit for royalty In Qatar, Trump announced an 'economic exchange' worth at least $1.2tn. However, in the fact sheet released by the White House deals worth only $243.5bn between the two countries were mentioned. One of the Qatari agreements that was confirmed was Qatar Airways purchasing up to 210 passenger jets for $96bn from the beleaguered American aircraft manufacturer Boeing. The White House said the deal would support 154,000 jobs in the US each year of their production, totalling one million jobs over the deal's lifecycle. Meanwhile, the UAE inked an agreement to construct the world's largest AI campus outside the US, reportedly granting it access to 500,000 cutting edge microchips from US giant Nvidia, starting next year. This project sits within the UAE's broader pledge to invest $1.4tn in the US over the next decade. As well as the challenge of delivering what is promised, another potential obstacle to these figures being realised are oil prices. Oil prices tumbled to a four-year low in April amid growing concerns that Trump's tariffs could dampen global economic growth. The decline was further fuelled by the group of oil producing nations, Opec+, announcing plans to increase output. For Saudi Arabia, the fall in global oil prices since the start of the year has further strained its finances, increasing pressure to either raise debt or cut spending to sustain its development goals. Last month, the IMF cut the forecast for the world's largest oil exporter's GDP growth in 2025 to 3% from its previous estimate of 3.3%. 'It's going to be very hard for Saudi to come up with that sort of money [the $600bn announced] in the current oil price environment,' Mr Callen adds. Other analysts note that a lot of the agreements signed during the trip were non-binding memorandums of understanding, which are less formal than contracts, and do not always translate into actual transactions. And some of the deals included in the agreement were announced earlier. Saudi oil firm Aramco, for instance, announced 34 agreements with US companies valued at up to $90bn. However, most were non-binding memorandums of understanding without specified monetary commitments. And its agreement to purchase 1.2 million tonnes of liquified natural gas annually for 20 years from US firm NextDecade was also included in the list of new deals, despite it first being announced months ago. Getty Images A Qatar Airways Boeing aircraftGetty Images One of the deals announced on the trip was Qatar Airways buying 210 new aircraft from Boeing Yet the massive investments mark a continuation of the shift in the US-Gulf relationship away from oil-for-security to stronger economic partnerships rooted in bilateral investments. Bader Al Saif, an assistant professor at Kuwait University and an associate fellow at think tank Chatham House, says that the deals indicate that US and the Gulf states are 'planning the future together and that was a significant change for the relationship'. He adds that the AI deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia were central to this as 'they clearly demonstrate that they are trying to see how to build the new global order and the new way of doing things together'. This emphasis on AI underscores the growing strategic importance of the technology to US diplomacy. Trump was accompanied on the trip by Sam Altman, the boss of OpenAI, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk, who owns Grok AI. And on the eve of the visit, the White House scrapped tough Biden-era restrictions on exports of the advanced US semiconductors required to best run AI systems. The rules had divided the world into tiers, with some countries enjoying broad access to its high-end chips, and others being denied them altogether. About 120 countries, including the Gulf nations, were grouped in the middle, facing strict caps on the number of semiconductors they could import. This had frustrated countries such as Saudi Arabia, who have ambitions to become high-tech economies as they transition away from oil. Both Saudi and the UAE are racing to build large-scale AI data centres, while Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, aims to become a global AI hub. The UAE has made visible efforts to reassure Washington – deepening partnerships with US tech firms, curbing ties with Chinese companies, and aligning more closely with American national security interests. Mr Al-Saif says that the UAE is 'betting on the Americans when it comes to AI'. 'We have seen that the technological turn in the 90s came from the US anyway.' Getty Images Trump walking with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani Getty Images After Saudi Arabia Trump travelled to Qatar where $1.2tn of deals were announced Both camps are hailing the visit as a triumph. For the Gulf, and especially Saudi Arabia, it resets a partnership that frayed under Biden, and underscores their ambition to act as heavyweight players on the world stage. For Trump, touting 'trillions' in new investment offers a timely boost – his tariff hikes have dented global trade and pushed US output into its first quarterly dip in three years. These Gulf deals will be sold as proof that his economic playbook is working. At the end of the trip, Mr Trump worried that whoever succeeds him in the White House would claim credit for the deals once they come to completion. 'I'll be sitting home, who the hell knows where I'll be, and I'll say, 'I did that,'' he said. 'Somebody's going to be taking the credit for this. You remember, press,' he said, pointing to himself, 'this guy did it.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Did Trump really strike Gulf deals worth $2tn?
Flying home from his Gulf trip last week, President Donald Trump told reporters "that was a great four days, historic four days". Visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he added in this trademark swagger that "the jobs and money coming into our countries, there has never been anything like it". Trump claimed that he was able to secure deals totalling more than $2tn (£1.5tn) for the US, but do the numbers add up? The trip itself was an extravaganza, with the three Gulf states pulling out all the stops. Escorts of fighter jets, extravagant welcoming ceremonies, a thundering 21-gun salute, a fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks, royal camels, Arabian horses, and sword dancers were all part of the pageantry. The UAE also awarded Mr Trump the country's highest civilian honour, the Order of Zayed. The visit's optics were striking; the region's richest petrostates flaunted their opulence, revealing just how much of that fortune they were ready to deploy to strengthen ties with the US while advancing their own economic goals. Ros Atkins on... Trump's deals in the Gulf Trump heads to Saudi Arabia eyeing more investment in US What did Trump's speech in Saudi Arabia reveal? Before embarking on the trip, President Trump, who touts himself as a "dealmaker in chief" was clear that the main objective of the trip was to land investments worth billions of dollars. On the face of it, he succeeded. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated a pledge to invest $600bn in US-Saudi partnerships. There were a plethora of deals announced as part of this, encompassing arms, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, infrastructure projects and science collaborations, and various security ties and initiatives. The $142bn defence deal grabbed a lot of the attention as it was described by the White House as the largest arms deal ever. However, there remains some doubt as to whether those investment figures are realistic. During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump had announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to $450bn in deals with the US. But actual trade and investment flows amounted to less than $300bn between 2017 to 2020, according to data compiled by the Arab Gulf States Institute. The report was authored by Tim Callen, the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief to Saudi Arabia, and now a visiting fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. "The proof with all of these [new] deals will be in the pudding," says Mr Callen. The BBC contacted the White House for comment. In Qatar, Trump announced an "economic exchange" worth at least $1.2tn. However, in the fact sheet released by the White House deals worth only $243.5bn between the two countries were mentioned. One of the Qatari agreements that was confirmed was Qatar Airways purchasing up to 210 passenger jets for $96bn from the beleaguered American aircraft manufacturer. The White House said the deal would support 154,000 jobs in the US each year of their production, totalling one million jobs over the deal's lifecycle. Meanwhile, the UAE inked an agreement to construct the world's largest AI campus outside the US, reportedly granting it access to 500,000 cutting edge microchips from US giant Nvidia, starting next year. This project sits within the UAE's broader pledge to invest $1.4tn in the US over the next decade. As well as the challenge of delivering what is promised, another potential obstacle to these figures being realised are oil prices. Oil prices tumbled to a four-year low in April amid growing concerns that Trump's tariffs could dampen global economic growth. The decline was further fuelled by the group of oil producing nations, Opec+, announcing plans to increase output. For Saudi Arabia, the fall in global oil prices since the start of the year has further strained its finances, increasing pressure to either raise debt or cut spending to sustain its development goals. Last month, the IMF cut the forecast for the world's largest oil exporter's GDP growth in 2025 to 3% from its previous estimate of 3.3%. "It's going to be very hard for Saudi to come up with that sort of money [the $600bn announced] in the current oil price environment," Mr Callen adds. Other analysts note that a lot of the agreements signed during the trip were non-binding memorandums of understanding, which are less formal than contracts, and do not always translate into actual transactions. And some of the deals included in the agreement were announced earlier. Saudi oil firm Aramco, for instance, announced 34 agreements with US companies valued at up to $90bn. However, most were non-binding memorandums of understanding without specified monetary commitments. And its agreement to purchase 1.2 million tonnes of liquified natural gas annually for 20 years from US firm NextDecade was also included in the list of new deals, despite it first being announced months ago. Yet the massive investments mark a continuation of the shift in the US-Gulf relationship away from oil-for-security to stronger economic partnerships rooted in bilateral investments. Bader Al Saif, an assistant professor at Kuwait University and an associate fellow at think tank Chatham House, says that the deals indicate that US and the Gulf states are "planning the future together and that was a significant change for the relationship". He adds that the AI deals with the UAE and Saudi Arabia were central to this as "they clearly demonstrate that they are trying to see how to build the new global order and the new way of doing things together". This emphasis on AI underscores the growing strategic importance of the technology to US diplomacy. Trump was accompanied on the trip by Sam Altman, the boss of OpenAI, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and Elon Musk, who owns Grok AI. And on the eve of the visit, the White House scrapped tough Biden-era restrictions on exports of the advanced US semiconductors required to best run AI systems. The rules had divided the world into tiers, with some countries enjoying broad access to its high-end chips, and others being denied them altogether. About 120 countries, including the Gulf nations, were grouped in the middle, facing strict caps on the number of semiconductors they could import. This had frustrated countries such as Saudi Arabia, who have ambitions to become high-tech economies as they transition away from oil. Both Saudi and the UAE are racing to build large-scale AI data centres, while Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, aims to become a global AI hub. The UAE has made visible efforts to reassure Washington – deepening partnerships with US tech firms, curbing ties with Chinese companies, and aligning more closely with American national security interests. Mr Al-Saif says that the UAE is "betting on the Americans when it comes to AI". "We have seen that the technological turn in the 90s came from the US anyway." Both camps are hailing the visit as a triumph. For the Gulf, and especially Saudi Arabia, it resets a partnership that frayed under Biden, and underscores their ambition to act as heavyweight players on the world stage. For Trump, touting "trillions" in new investment offers a timely boost - his tariff hikes have dented global trade and pushed US output into its first quarterly dip in three years. These Gulf deals will be sold as proof that his economic playbook is working. At the end of the trip, Mr Trump worried that whoever succeeds him in the White House would claim credit for the deals once they come to completion. "I'll be sitting home, who the hell knows where I'll be, and I'll say, 'I did that,'" he said. "Somebody's going to be taking the credit for this. You remember, press," he said, pointing to himself, "this guy did it." The world's most dangerous country for trade unionists Letting off steam: How Dominica's volcanoes will boost its green energy Is the US finally on track to build a high-speed rail network? Deported gang members get second chance at call centre
