No rush on Abu Dhabi financial free zone timeline


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Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)will map out the implementation of its strategy after talks with local and foreign stakeholders over the next eight weeks, says its chairman.

But Ahmed Ali Mohamed Al Sayegh said yesterday there was no fixed timeline for the formation of the financial free zone.

“The timeline will not be dictated by specific dates but rather a deliberate approach which will include within the next eight weeks a process for coordination and collaboration with local and international stakeholders on strategy and direction,” Mr Al Sayegh said without specifying which stakeholders would be involved in the talks.

A government decree was announced in February to establish the zone, where Abu Dhabi hopes to attract leading financial services companies to conduct business.

"Hosting the Abu Dhabi Global Market in Al Maryah Island is a natural next step in our role as a dependable and responsible participant in the global financial community," said Mr Al Sayegh.

“[It] aims to promote the emirate as a leading market for financial services and activity across the world, and in doing so further strengthening the profile and position of the UAE within the financial sector.”

He said work was under way to form the zone’s three regulatory pillars: the Registration Bureau, the Financial Services Regulations Bureau, and the Courts.

ADGM will focus on business areas including commodities trading, storage and transport, derivatives trading, settlement clearing and depositary services, as well as foreign exchange and wealth management.

Officials have often stressed that ADGM will differ from Dubai International Financial Centre’s area of focus.

Alex Thursby, the group chief executive of National Bank of Abu Dhabi, said yesterday that ADGM and DIFC would complement each other.

“Abu Dhabi and Dubai both have a role,” Mr Thursby said. “It’s a bit like Hong Kong and Singapore. They have lived together alongside each other but have just positioned themselves differently.

“Hong Kong is a debt capital market, it used to be the foreign exchange centre, that’s now moved to Singapore.”

In addition to finance, ADGM is intended to stimulate a wider bustling business and residential district, eventually employing as many as 75,000 people and accommodating tens of thousands of residents.

Mr Al Sayegh said ADGM’s role as an important centre for employment aside, it would help to educate and train young UAE nationals.

“We will create meaningful opportunities for nationals,” he said.

“It will also be a place for education and training, where young people can learn best practices and eager university graduates can build their network and contacts.”

tarnold@thenational.ae

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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

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Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

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Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

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First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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