Chemical weapons law to be amended

The ministerial legislative committee has approved a number of amendments to Law No. 40 (2006) regarding ban on developing, manufacturing, stockpiling or using chemical weapons.

At a meeting presided over by HE Minister of Justice Jouan bin Hadif al Dhahiri, the committee also approved amendments to the federal draft law No.13 (2007) regarding commodities regulated by export-import control.

The committee also approved amendments to Federal Law regarding people with special needs and replaced the term 'people of special needs' with the phrase 'Disabled'. The amended law is to be called Law on the Rights of persons with disabilities.

The committee has submitted the decisions to the cabinet for discussion and final approval.

HE minister of social affairs Maryam Mohammed Khalfan al Roumi, HE minister of health Humaid Mohammed Al Qattami, HE minister of state for foreign affairs Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, HE minister of environment and water Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, HE minister of state for financial affairs Obeid Humaid al Tayer and Acting Undersecretary of ministry of justice Dr. Ali al Housni attended the meeting.
/WAM/

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Salary hike hailed

A recent decision by President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ordering a salary hike for police personnel has been well-received, according to a senior police official.

Brigadier Dr. Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Inspector General at the Ministry of Interior said: "This decision was widely hailed by the police personnel. Undoubtedly, our police and security personnel will meet this decision with more work and dedication".

Sheikh Saeed expressed his thanks to President Khalifa, Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, the Minister of Interior, for their unfailing efforts to provide decent living conditions for police and law enforcement agencies. WAM

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FNC briefed on draft law on arms, ammunitions and explosives

The interior and defense affairs' committee at the Federal National Council (FNC) were briefed on the draft federal law on arms, ammunitions and explosives.

It discussed Monday at the secretariat branch in Dubai, the articles of the draft law, which includes 75 articles on regulation of ownership of the fire arms, ammunitions, explosives, fireworks, their transportation, storing, trading and punishments in this respect.

The committee will resume discussion in presence of representatives from the ministries of interior and defense.

Present at the meeting were Ali Majid Al Matrooshi, head of the committee, Salem Mohammed bin Salem Al Naqbi, rapporteur of the committee and other high ranking officials. (WAM)

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France to Build Military Base in UAE

France will soon become the only Western nation outside of the United States with a permanent military base in the Persian Gulf, reports the Washington Post. French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed the deal with United Arab Emirates President Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan during a three-day tour through Persian Gulf states.

The base, set to open in 2009, will house at least 400 French soldiers and support personnel.

While the move may look good for relations between east and west, it reflects two dangerous shifts for Middle East politics, centering around the waning U.S. strength in the region and the waxing influence of Iran—and Europe. America’s lack of decisive victory in Iraq and the imminent presidential change only decrease Washington’s credibility as a powerful ally.

The other option for Mideast states is Europe—and Europe appears ready to collaborate in countering the Iranian threat. “French officials said the U.A.E. military base … is intended in part to warn Iran against taking steps toward any of its neighbors.” France is already a major weapons supplier to the U.A.E. An active member in the European Union, France will now have troops stationed in Abu Dhabi, just across the gulf from Iran.

The establishment of the Abu Dhabi base is just the beginning of Europe moving its military might into the Middle East. Source

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Injazat Defence Services launched

Injazat Data Systems, the region's Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, has announced the launch of 'Injazat Defence Services' - a new subsidiary that will provide business process and information technology defence services.

The new company, which will commence operations on January 17, 2008, will be positioned as a local defence company that can leverage Electronic Data Systems' global defence consultancy, as well as its outsourcing and service delivery experience, to address local and regional military and defence requirements.

Announcing the launch at a press conference held today at Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, Ibrahim Mohamed Lari, CEO, Injazat Data Systems said: 'As one of the UAE's leading IT services companies, we have developed a solid reputation based on our secure and flexible services that have earned us the respect of governments throughout the region.' He then added, 'Our defence subsidiary will capitalise on this reputation and will develop locally world-class expertise to assist the local and regional military and defence organisations meet their needs.' Drawing on the strengths of Injazat Data Systems and Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Injazat Defence Services will provide a wide range of defence services.

About Injazat Data SystemsInjazat Data Systems LLC:

Established in the 1st Quarter of 2005, Injazat Data Systems is an Information Technology and Business Services company that offers a wide range of business technology and outsourcing services. It is focused on providing IT services to the government, oil & gas, utilities, financial services, transportation, telecom and healthcare sectors. Injazat is a joint venture of Mubadala Development Company and Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

Injazat aims to become the premier information technology and business process outsourcing services provider in the region. Growth is driven through Mubadala's knowledge of the Middle East business environment plus the delivery capabilities of EDS - creating a local company with the experience of a global player.

Mubadala Development is a Public Joint Stock company, established and wholly owned by the government of Abu Dhabi with a mission to invest in commercially viable, strategic, industrial and commercial partnerships.

EDS provides a broad portfolio of business and technology solutions to help its clients worldwide improve their business performance. EDS' core portfolio comprises Information Technology, applications and business process services, as well as Information Technology transformation services. EDS supports the world's leading companies and governments in 60 countries.

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UAE, France ink military cooperation agreement

The UAE and France signed Tuesday at Al Mushref Palace a military cooperation agreement for boosting military cooperation between the two friendly countries.
UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed on part of the UAE, while French Defence Minister Herve Morin, signed on behalf of France.

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the visit of French defence minister, adding that : "This agreement is one dimension of joint cooperation between the two countries in different fields".

He cited the bilateral relations and growing military cooperation as examples.

On his part, Morin lauded the level of military cooperation between the UAE and France, adding that "France is keen to further bolster this cooperation".

He thanked the government of UAE for the warm reception accorded to him and the accompanying delegation. (WAM)

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UAE, France sign landmark nuclear cooperation agreement

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President Nicholas Sarkozy of the French witnessed on Tuesday the signing of a landmark bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of France.

The agreement, which was signed by UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French Foreign and European Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner, provides a framework for cooperation between the two countries in the evaluation and potential use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Under the agreement, the UAE and France will form a high-level joint committee to oversee cooperation in the areas of nuclear power generation, water desalination, basic and applied research, as well as, in the fields of agronomy, earth sciences, medicine and industry.

Commenting after signing the deal, Sheikh Abdullah said that :"The UAE is conducting wide consultations to create a responsible framework for the evaluation and possible implementation of a peaceful nuclear programme, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security".

Towards this end, he added, the UAE is undertaking high-level government-to-government consultations with the governments of the United States, Germany, the France, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea, specifically with regard to draft UAE policy document on the evaluation and possible implementation of a peaceful nuclear programme in the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah said that similar direct consultations are also being sought with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), indicating that " It is the UAE Government's hope that the final policy may also serve as a replicable model for non-nuclear countries to evaluate and potentially implement a peaceful domestic nuclear programme with full support and backing of the international community".

He confirmed in a statement that the announced initiatives are in addition and complimentary to the UAE's commitment to be part of the GCC-wide initiative to explore the potential for peaceful nuclear power generation in the GCC.

The signing of the agreement between the UAE and France follows numerous official statements expressing the interest of the UAE in the peaceful use of nuclear energy to meet its growing internal demand for electricity and desalinated water. (WAM)

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Salary Hike

President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered a 70 per cent salary hike for all the employees of the UAE Armed Forces and the Abu Dhabi Police.
The salary increase which will include civilian and security personnel of the Armed Forces and the Abu Dhabi Police, will take effect from January 2008.
The hike follows the "Inclusive Salary" system which was introduced in the Abu Dhabi Government Departments earlier this year.
The amended salary structure for the Police and Armed Forces personnel is part of an integrated strategic development plan aimed at boosting government performance at various levels. Source

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ZU signs MoU with UAE Armed Forces

The Zayed University (ZU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Armed Forces for scientific and academic cooperation between the two institutions.Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, who is also the Chancellor of the ZU, signed the agreement for the ZU, while Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithy, also signed for his side during a short ceremony held here at the ZU premises.ZU Director Dr. Sulaiman Al Jasim and a number of senior officers of the UAE Armed Forces were present at the ceremony of the agreement, which was in line with the vision of the UAE President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is also based on the directives of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which calls for the development of education in all UAE institutions to boost development.Sheikh Nahyan, who applauded the agreement, said UAE universities were always working hard to develop their courses to meet the latest scientific and information developments, adding that this was being done by acquiring and teaching the latest programmes introduced by the world's most reputable universities.The agreement calls for academic cooperation between the ZU and the UAE Armed Forces, including providing university education at the ZU for UAE Armed Forces' candidates to obtain Baccalaureate degree in Engineering, IT, Telecommunications, Information, Health Sciences, Education, business Administration, Art and Science.It also calls for sharing of expertise, resources and educational materials, as well as cooperation in the areas of conferences, cultural seminars and development of education programmes.Implementation of the MoU begins from the 2007/2008 academic year, during which ZU students will receive military training that would be counted as part of their credit hours of study. Source

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Diplomatic Institute conducts training for military attaches

Dr. Tariq Al Haidan , the acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened today at the premises of the Diplomatic Institute the 6th qualifying course for the military attaches of the UAE embassies.Dr. Tariq told the participants that "the soldier and the diplomat are the two wings of the power of the country " and spoke about the challenges confronting the modern diplomacy and the experience of UAE diplomacy since independence up to now and the role that the diplomacy plays in reflecting the visions and directives of the leadership in maintaining the national interests and achieving the strategic goals of the foreign policy. Source

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GCC 16th meeting of weapons officials

The 16th meeting which gathers GCC officials in charge of weapons and ammunitions began in Abu Dhabi today. At the beginning of the meeting, Lt. colonel Eisa Saeed Al Shamsi , the director of weapons and ammunitions section of the Criminal Security - Ministry of Interior welcomed the delegations wishing them success in their missions. During the first session, the participants discussed the previous missions assigned to them in the last meeting in Kuwait last year. Then they discussed a number of papers presented from member countries. The meeting will go on for three days during which participants will discuss security-related issues and come out with conclusions. Source

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UAE - US military meeting

Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, received here today General Lance Smith, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and Commander, U. S. Joint Forces Command. During the meeting, which was also attended by senior military officials and the accompanying delegation, aspects of joint military cooperation between the two sides and ways of bolstering it. Source

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UAE, Australia sign military agreement

The UAE signed co-operational agreement with Australia in the military field.This came during the meeting held between L. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces and Dr. Brendan Nelson, Australia's Minister of Defence, who is visiting the country.The agreement dictated to develop and enhance relations between both countries through military cooperation. Source

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Another American deal for Dubai

The Carlyle Group has agreed to sell Landmark Aviation and Standard Aero to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. The transaction is valued at $1.8 billion, with around $1.03 billion being used for the Standard Aero acquisition. Tempe, Ariz.-based Landmark provides aircraft maintenance services, while Winnipeg-based Standard Aero provides repair services at airport terminals. Doughty Hanson is also a Standard Aero shareholder.

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Aviation Procurement Exhibition kicks off today

The first ever Aviation Procurement Exhibition (APEX openS today in Abu Dhabi, showcasing a range of aircraft, airport and airline pavilions at the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).The important trade event is designed to facilitate the procurement requirements of the Middle East's booming aviation sector, characterised by new carriers, airport expansions and massive airline purchases, and to establish Abu Dhabi as a hub of the international aviation industry.Under the patronage of Dr. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Airways and the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO), APEX will support the development of the emirate's principal aviation companies by enabling procurement specialists to view, test and acquire new products, services and technologies.The recent allocation of more than Dh 73.4 billion for the development of the national aviation infrastructure is predicted to lure a consortium of top level government officials, dignitaries, business leaders and industry experts to the event.

A specialised aviation conference also kicks off today, running parallel to APEX to address key issues facing the regional civil aviation industry. The conference will provide a knowledge platform for senior executives in the aviation industry to discuss their thoughts, ideas and experiences on current issues related to procurement and finance in aviation. According to statistics, the Middle East is the world's fastest growing aviation market in terms of air passenger traffic, experiencing a 15.3 per cent increase from Feb 2005 to Feb 2006. The region is also experiencing a proliferation of new carriers and some of the world's fastest growing airlines, including Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines. APEX is being organised by Streamline Marketing Group in association with Etihad Airways, national airline of the UAE, Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO), a government owned aviation maintenance services company, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), managing body of national airport operations and aviation infrastructure.The exhibition is the fourth event to be staged at Phase 1 of the completed Exhibition Centre since its opening in February for IDEX. The multi-purpose venue boasts 28,000sqm of exhibition floor space over seven interconnected halls, two luxurious conference rooms, 16 meeting rooms and a 2,000sqm food court. When fully complete in 2008, ADNEC will contain 55,000sqm of exhibition floor space making it one of the largest exhibition venues in the Middle East. Source WAM

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Aviation Procurement And Finance Conference

Organisers of the Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference to be held later this month in Abu Dhabi have announced that leading aerospace company and aircraft manufacturer Boeing is the platinum sponsor of the event.The three-day conference is part of the Aviation Procurement Expo (APEX), which takes place from March 19 – 21 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and will feature key industry experts from around the world.This new event, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, has been commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Government and is central to its plans to establish the UAE capital as a world-class aviation hub.James Hogan, CEO of the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways, will be keynote speaker at the conference, which focuses on procurement issues facing modern airlines. Etihad is one of the fastest growing airlines in aviation history and is playing a major role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s aviation industry.The Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference will also feature presentations by heads of procurement and finance from major airlines around the world, including British Airways and Emirates, as well as industry experts from companies such as Rolls-Royce, international management consultancy Mott MacDonald and global corporate law firm Norton Rose. Around 200 delegates from international airlines and related industry sectors are expected to attend and topics will include financing options for fleet expansion, Islamic financing of aircraft, strategic sourcing in the aviation sector and fuel procurement. Delegates can also take part in a final-day workshop run by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, UK, which looks at effective risk management and negotiation strategies in purchasing. Continue to the full story from Source.

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UAE Contract for Biological Agent Detector

Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, has received a significant order from the United Arab Emirates for the Bio-Seeq portable biological agent detector.
The UAE Government has ordered a quantity of the detection & identification devices that allow that allow military and emergency services personnel to make a quick determination of any biological agent risks from unknown substances.
Bio-Seeq detects the presence of spores and provides extremely accurate results by analysing the DNA of an organism. Bio-Seeq now puts the power of a chemist's lab in the hands of facility security professionals, military forces, and first responders such as fire fighters, hazmat teams and police.
Weighing only 6.5lbs and about the size of a book, the rugged handheld unit is easily carried and can be powered by batteries, vehicle adapter or AC plug-in. The unit can test up to six different samples simultaneously, testing each one independent of the others. Ease of use is a priority for the Bio-Seeq, which has been designed with a membrane keyboard with extra large keys suitable for operators wearing heavy gloves.
The speed of detection provided by Bio-Seeq, assisted by the simple preparation of samples, offers a critical advantage. At so-called "white powder" incidents, it allows the authorities to reassure people and quickly return the situation to normality, in the event of a hoax, or take appropriate responses in the event of a real incident. Bio-Seeq improves on traditional technologies which require substances to be sent to a specialist laboratory for analysis by chemists, taking between 12 and 48 hours. Source

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New decree on human resources

H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued in his capacity as ruler of Dubai decree No. 3/2007 on salaries and privileges and benefits of military UAE national and non UAE-national employees at the Government of Dubai. Article 4 of the new decree which goes into effect as from 1st of January 2007, divides the concerned employees into officers, noncommissioned officers and personnel.Article 6 divides the total salary received by those three categories into basic salary (50%) and the general raise (50%).Regulating the process of giving raises, the decree divides units at which those military employees work into major organizational units and supporting organizational units.Article 8, sets the range of raises for the nature of work between 10% and 40% and provides for the prevention of duplicating raises received for the nature of work.The 19-article decree provides military employees with cashable annual air tickets.A set percentage shall be taken out of salaries of employees whom the government provides them with accommodation. The procedure shall be organized by the Dubai Executive Council at a later stage.For graduates of military academies, the authentic number of in-service years shall be calculated as from the starting date of work.The decree stipulates that Dubai Executive Council shall, within a maximum of six months, approve human resources law for military employees at the Government of Dubai. Source, Source

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IDEX 2007 attracts 37,490 visitors

The International Defence Exhibition, IDEX 2007, has attracted a total of 37,490, according to Major General Obaid Al Kutbi, Chief of the UAE Armed Forces Logistics and IDEX 2007 Spokesman.The number includes civil and military visitors from within the UAE and neighbouring countries, Al Kutbi said.The Exhibition, which closed today, registered substantial growth in the number of exhibitors and visitors and in the value of deals. Total deals concluded during the event amounted to AED3.37 billion. Source

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Combined value of deals signed during IDEX 2007 hit Dhs.3.3 billion

The UAE Armed Forces today announced deals worth Dhs. 1.2 billion, bringing the combined value of contracts signed with local and international companies during IDEX 2007 to Dhs.3.3 billion. Speaking at a news conference on the final day of IDEX 2007, Major General Obaid Al Kitbi, revealed that the UAE Army has signed a contract worth Dhs. 71 million with the Abu Dhabi Aviation for maintenance of search and rescue aircraft - AB139.Other beneficiaries of contracts announced during the final day of IDEX included Al Naboodah Company which won a Dhs 20 million contract to provide various military equipment and International Golden Group (IGG) , which won a contract worht Dhs 87 million for upgrading Hummer vehicle systems. Advanced Emirates Establishment won a Dhs 30 million contract to establish an automated medical services system for the Armed Forces. Al Tuff International won a f Dhs 34 million contract for procurement of different military equipment. Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Bahar Engineering Company won a contract woth Dhs 73 milion for engineering equipment. Three local companies, namely Al Mowqa Technology Limited, Al Fahad Smart System and C4 Advanced Solutions won a combined contract of Dhs 141 million for provision of various security equipment.French's Dasault won a Dhs 135 million for providing technical support services to Mirage 2000 Aircraft. Russian's KBP won a contract worth Dhs 354 million for various military systems, and FLIR Systems won a Dhs 40 million contract to provide thermal cameras.A 100 per cent UAE company called Emitech won a Dhs 180 million contract to provide individual night vision equipment. The equipment were developed and designed in the UAE in conjunction with German experts.Another local company, Emirates Hovercraft has won a contract to supply 40 amphibious helicopters which will be used UAE Coast Guards Source.

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