Latest from Al Etihad
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE expresses solidarity with Afghanistan, conveys condolences over victims of bus collision resulting in dozens of deaths
20 Aug 2025 20:54 ABU DHABI (WAM)The United Arab Emirates expressed its solidarity with Afghanistan and conveyed its sincere condolences over victims of the traffic accident bus collision which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries in Herat province, western Afghanistan. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) conveyed the UAE's sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the people of Afghanistan over this tragedy, along with its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Etihad
NCM: Highest temperature recorded across UAE on Wednesday is 47°C in Hamim
20 Aug 2025 20:11 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) announced that the highest temperature recorded in the UAE on Wednesday was 47°C in Hamim, located in the Al Dhafra region in the emirate of Abu to its bulletin on X, the weather bureau recorded the five highest temperatures across the country on Wednesday in the following areas:- Hamim: 47°C at 1:45 pm- Mezaira: 46.7°C at 12:45 pm- Abu Qrayn: 46.5°C at 1:45 pm- Owtaid: 46.4°C at 2:15 am - Mukhariz: 45.9°C at 3:45 pm
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE conducts 76th airdrop of aid over Gaza Strip
20 Aug 2025 20:04 GAZA (WAM)The United Arab Emirates is continuing its humanitarian support for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip by carrying out today the 76th airdrop of aid under Birds of Goodness Operation, part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, in cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and with the participation of Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Singapore and shipment included quantities of essential food supplies, prepared with the support of Emirati charitable institutions and organisations, to meet the needs of the population amid the dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza the completion of this airdrop, the total aid delivered by air under the operation has surpassed 4,020 tonnes of food and other essential supplies, reaffirming the UAE's unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and strengthening their resilience. These initiatives highlight the UAE's pioneering role in international relief efforts, mobilising regional and international cooperation and reinforcing the nation's approach of giving to alleviate the suffering of those affected by crises.
Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
S&P Global Ratings assigns AA- Stable rating to Masdar
20 Aug 2025 19:06 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)Masdar, Abu Dhabi's flagship renewable energy company, has been assigned a long-term issuer credit rating of AA- with a Stable outlook by S&P Global Ratings, underscoring its financial strength, global reach, and the substantial backing it continues to receive from the emirate of Abu to S&P, the rating reflects Masdar's 'extremely high likelihood of receiving timely and sufficient financial support from the government of Abu Dhabi,' given the company's pivotal role in the emirate's clean energy transition strategy. The stable outlook mirrors that of the sovereign itself, which holds an AA rating with a Stable AA- rating is among the highest grades awarded by S&P, signalling a very strong capacity to meet financial commitments and a low expectation of credit risk. The 'Stable' outlook means the agency expects this strong position to be maintained over the next 12–24 months. For Masdar, the affirmation effectively positions it just one notch below Abu Dhabi itself and places it among the world's most creditworthy renewable energy developers.S&P emphasised the ample evidence of state support for Masdar's growth. 'The group has thus far received over Dh20 billion in equity support from the government to finance its acquisitions,' the report noted. This record of injections highlights Abu Dhabi's readiness to step in with extraordinary support if ever required. 'This results in six notches of uplift from Masdar's stand-alone credit profile of 'bbb-', leading to an 'AA-' long-term issuer credit rating,' the S&P Rating said. Masdar is also benefiting from its pioneering position in green finance. Despite rising leverage, the company raised around Dh10 billion in 2025 through green bond issuances at a coupon rate of only 5%, demonstrating investor confidence and its strong access to capital rating action comes as Masdar accelerates its international expansion. From 2021 to March 2025, the company's gross capacity — including operational, under-construction and committed projects — more than doubled from 15 gigawatts (GW) to 33 GW. Its portfolio spans more than 25 countries and is concentrated in well-proven renewable technologies, particularly utility-scale solar photovoltaic and onshore wind, which together account for over 80% of its generation many of its peers, Masdar follows an investor-led approach, outsourcing operations and construction risks to third-party contractors. S&P pointed to the company's 'large, low-risk asset base' supported by long-term take-or-pay contracts, with about 97% of revenues locked in. These factors, combined with government backing, 'underpin Masdar's sound access to capital markets and good relationships with banks,' the report said. Masdar's ambition remains to increase its portfolio to more than 100 GW by 2030, a target closely aligned with the UAE's national clean energy and net-zero goals. As of March 2025, it had an advanced pipeline of 25 GW, of which 15 GW were already under development.
Al Etihad
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Under the directives of Mansour bin Zayed and patronage of Ahmed bin Mohammed, Emirates Falcons International Cup to mark launch as annual event starting from 2025–2026 season
20 Aug 2025 17:44 DUBAI (WAM) In keeping with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court; and the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, the UAE Falcons Federation has accorded approval for organising the Emirates Falcons International Cup, an international falconry championship to be held annually across various continents, starting from the 2025–2026 championship aims to elevate falconry and associated sports on the global sporting scene while upholding the highest standards of the sport and consolidating the UAE's position as a leading destination for falconry. It also seeks to promote and preserve falconry's rich heritage through innovative objectives are to be achieved through organising international events that foster the spirit of sportsmanship and healthy competition while advancing sustainability and growing the popularity of the sport in countries and communities worldwide by featuring it prominently in their respective sporting constant follow-up of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Vice President of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, and Vice President of the UAE Falcons Federation, has also been instrumental in providing the initiative necessary championship will be the first of its kind to sport the UAE's name and be held outside its borders, with hosting rights to be awarded to the country that demonstrates the highest readiness and compliance with the championship's criteria and conditions among the members of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing. Finer details will be announced later during a press conference to be held by the UAE Falcons Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed that the leadership's unstinting support for falconry sports denotes the great importance accorded to preserving diverse aspects of authentic Emirati heritage, especially since falconry represents a distinguished symbol of cultural legacy not only nationally but also globally. His Highness emphasised that the leadership's support for falconry presents a unique contemporary model to be emulated globally from a cultural and historical perspective, with world-class sporting events further consolidating the impact Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed noted that the UAE has set new benchmarks globally in advancing falconry and growing its appeal as a competitive sport, drawing upon its wealth of experience in popularising the sport inspired by the pioneering initiatives and programmes launched decades ago by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who devoted great attention and effort to promoting falconry and other heritage sports, the fruits of which are apparent Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed added that, thanks to the keen support of its leadership, the UAE has emerged as a global falconry hub and a pioneer in taking the sport global by actively devising strategies and innovative ideas to enhance its reach and his part, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan welcomed the announcement of the new competition, confirming that it comes at a time when the UAE has secured a leading position for falconry among heritage sports that have generated immense interest to him, the country has helped establish a solid base of falconry purveyors and contributed to the creation of an international entity aimed at promoting and organising the sport globally according to competitive rules, principles, and impeccable sporting values in the form of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Zayed bin Hamad noted that associating the UAE's name with major falconry sporting events lends such championships a distinctive character and motivates participants to deliver their best performances and achieve impressive results, given the prestige attached to sporting events named after the Rashid bin Markhan, Secretary-General of the International Federation for Falconry Sports and Racing, and the UAE Falcons Federation, affirmed that the UAE's unique approach in promoting falconry sports has earned it global success has been achieved through well-studied steps that have enabled this ancient sport to once more take centre stage on the international sporting scene, with falconry's historical role and close link to the national identity informing all such initiatives, he Markhan expressed his pride in the leadership's unwavering support for the sport and his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed for his patronage of the Emirates Falcons International Cup. He noted that various entities and institutions concerned with the sport in the UAE work in perfect harmony to popularise it far and wide while celebrating its glorious heritage.
