Amazon, the world's biggest e-commerce marketplace, has opened a new centre in Dubai, increasing its total capacity in the UAE by 70 per cent, boosting the logistics sector in the Emirates.
The hub in Dubai South, an aviation and logistics urban master development, has a storage capacity of nearly 60,000 cubic metres and will support an anticipated rise in demand during Ramadan, Amazon said on Tuesday.
The high-tech facility, which was opened on Monday, has almost 3km of conveyance equipment spread across more than 32,500 square metres over five floors, it said.
Its location within Dubai South’s Logistics District gives it “uninterrupted access” to Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport.
“We have created a world-class logistics, supply chain and warehousing infrastructure ecosystem, making it an ideal location for Amazon’s new facility,” said Khalifa Al Zaffin, executive chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai South.
“Hosting a global e-commerce company like Amazon expanding its investment in the UAE brings us closer to our mission to catalyse the UAE’s economic growth.”
Seattle-based Amazon's latest hub continues its commitment to the UAE, where it has invested heavily in logistics and technology in recent years.
It is building the Middle East's most technologically advanced warehouse in Abu Dhabi and also opened a major warehouse in the UAE capital last June.
“Fulfilment centres have a ripple effect across the economy, contributing significantly to the growth of e-commerce sales, building capacity and accelerating entrepreneurship,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, vice president of Amazon Middle East and North Africa.
In October, the company also opened the Amazon Web Services Cloud Innovation Centre in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, which aims to help spur innovation in the public and private sectors.
Last week, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, said Amazon will feature 100,000 businesses, including local small and medium enterprises, on its UAE website by 2026.
The move is part of the D33 programme, a 10-year strategy that aims to support 30 private companies to achieve the unicorn status, or start-ups worth more than $1 billion.
Amazon is playing a “catalysing role in the wider development of an economy centred on innovation and technology that enables talent”, said Helal Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.
The company's new Dubai South fulfilment centre is also promoting diversity and inclusion, with many of its leadership roles held by women, Amazon said.
“We continue to invest in building the UAE’s talent capabilities, creating diverse career paths in an industry-leading workplace,” Mr Mouchawar said.
Amazon is also investing its resources in other parts of the Middle East. At the Leap technology exhibition in Riyadh last month, it launched an academy in Saudi Arabia created to support the kingdom's human capital programme for the digital economy.
The academy will offer the “largest talent development programme of its kind in the Middle East”, and aims to train more than 30,000 Saudis, issue 35,000 certificates and offer 100 internships by 2025.
Dubai South, meanwhile, is boosting its Logistics District by implementing the latest technologies to facilitate streamlined services.
In December, it signed a preliminary agreement with autonomous logistics company Evocargo to conduct the UAE's first driverless lorry trials as it positions the city to become a hub for the future of transport.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The%20Emperor%20and%20the%20Elephant
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Ottewill-Soulsby%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrinceton%20University%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E392%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJuly%2011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m. Winner: Rio Angie, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Trenchard, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m. Winner: Mulfit, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m. Winner: Waady, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m. Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m. Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
