Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service (MRO) provider GAL said it secured a Dh11 billion ($2.9bn) contract from the UAE Air Force and Air Defence (Afad).
GAL, a unit of UAE defence conglomerate Edge, will provide Afad with specialised MRO solutions under a three-year, performance-based logistics (PBL) contract, the company said at the Dubai Airshow on Sunday.
The PBL arrangement allows military customers to seek aviation MRO services organised under a cost per flight-hour model and also allows for ongoing improvements.
The contract "underscores our performance excellence and reliability as one of the region’s leading MRO service providers", GAL vice chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad said.
The company, which offers service to both military and civilian customers, said the agreement will support Afad with its "operational readiness while providing comprehensive safety and flexibility".
The agreement, the first such deal for the company, will also help it to establish it as one of the Middle East’s top aviation MRO services provider and will also streamline Afad's processes, align synergies and optimise manpower.
Defence spending in the six-member GCC economic bloc is expected to recover to pre-coronavirus levels by 2024 after declines that began this year due to the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, defence intelligence specialist Janes said in a report in February.
The strong economic bounce back is expected to support the sovereigns’ defence expenditure as revenue increase, the report said.
GAL is also opening the first regional distribution centre for aircraft logistics in Abu Dhabi in partnership with the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation, China's state-backed defence contractor, it said separately on Sunday.
The new Middle East and Africa Distribution Centre (MEADC) will significantly improve the availability of aircraft spare parts in the UAE and the wider Mena region.
“This collaboration is a testament to GAL’s competitive efforts to expand our presence and provide streamlined solutions to complex supply chain and MRO requirements,” said Khalid Al Breiki, president of Mission Support at Edge and managing director of GAL.
GAL understands the challenges posed by spare parts distribution and the regional distribution centre will “significantly improve access to these essential elements, as well as increase productivity and reduce complicated logistics, which arise when co-ordinating with international vendors”, he said.
Halcon, another Edge Group unit entity that specialises in the production and supply of precision-guided weapons, also said it has achieved of a “series of major developments for its SkyKnight air defence missile system”, including the completion of the system’s naval missile concept design, it said.
Halcon first unveiled SkyKnight, at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February. It is the first UAE-designed and manufactured counter-rocket, artillery and mortar missile system, which is intended to counter the full spectrum of modern threats, the company said on Sunday.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
