Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Chairman of the Cop28 Higher Committee. Photo: Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Chairman of the Cop28 Higher Committee. Photo: Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Chairman of the Cop28 Higher Committee. Photo: Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Chairman of the Cop28 Higher Committee. Photo: Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy.

Cop28 to be 'pro-climate and pro-economic growth'


  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Chairman of the Cop 28 Higher Committee responsible for preparations for November's summit, convened members to discuss priorities, preparations and milestones.

In the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah spoke of the responsibility of the UAE as the host country and the inclusive approach the nation has taken towards the planning and organisation of the conference, reported news agency Wam.

“Cop28 will be a significant meeting point for heads of state, business leaders, civil society, the scientific community, youth and all segments of society, as we deliberate where the world stands today on climate action, and what must be done to shift from promises to progress by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement,” he said.

During the committee meeting, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and Vice Chairman of the Higher Committee, discussed the summit presidency’s tour.

We need an approach that ensures economic prosperity and energy access in parallel with emissions reductions
Dr Sultan Al Jaber,
President-designate, Cop28

This included visits to India, China, Japan, Germany, France, the UK and the US.

Recent meetings included the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministerial in Sapporo, Japan, and the Spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington.

“Climate change is more than just an environmental challenge, it is also an economic issue,” Dr Sultan Al Jaber said.

“We need an approach that ensures economic prosperity and energy access in parallel with emissions reductions.

“Cop28 will be working with all stakeholders to accelerate a business-orientated approach that balances climate action with sustainable economic and social development.

“We must act together to ignite a transformational Cop28 agenda that is pro-growth, pro-climate and leaves no one behind.

“As the Cop28 Presidency continues on its global listening and engagement tour, we are calling for greater climate co-operation to accelerate progress across the core climate pillars.

“We have also been affirming the need for a just and pragmatic energy transition, and supporting reforms of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to enable more affordable, accessible and available climate finance, especially for the Global South.

“We are committed to shaping an inclusive Cop28 agenda where everyone has an opportunity to be heard and contribute to the process.”

Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and the Youth Climate Champion for Cop28, shared more on the positive response to the International Youth Climate Delegate Programme, announced at last month’s Road to Cop28 event.

The gathering at Expo City Dubai brought together more than 3,000 participants from across UAE society to raise climate awareness and inspire action in the Year of Sustainability.

The Cop28 UAE Higher Committee includes ministers and government officials who represent all areas of the government, industries and sectors to co-ordinate nationwide efforts for the climate summit.

Cop 28 will take place from November 30 until 12 December 2023 at Expo City Dubai.

Road to Cop 28 launch event at Expo City Dubai: in pictures

  • Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Cop28 President-designate, speaking at the Road to Cop28 launch event at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
    Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Cop28 President-designate, speaking at the Road to Cop28 launch event at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
  • Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Al Mheiri in conversation on stage at the event
    Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Al Mheiri in conversation on stage at the event
  • Ms Al Mheiri with Minister of Community Development and and Cop28 Youth Climate Champion Shamma Al Mazrui, Youngo spokeswoman and lead on nationally determined contributions working group Shreya KC and UN climate change high-level champion Razan Al Mubarak, in discussion on stage
    Ms Al Mheiri with Minister of Community Development and and Cop28 Youth Climate Champion Shamma Al Mazrui, Youngo spokeswoman and lead on nationally determined contributions working group Shreya KC and UN climate change high-level champion Razan Al Mubarak, in discussion on stage
  • Shreya KC, a Nepali climate justice activist, addresses the event at Al Wasl Plaza
    Shreya KC, a Nepali climate justice activist, addresses the event at Al Wasl Plaza
  • Filipino award-winning poet, rapper and climate artist Meta Sarmiento on stage at the event
    Filipino award-winning poet, rapper and climate artist Meta Sarmiento on stage at the event
  • Visitors at the Road to Cop28 launch event
    Visitors at the Road to Cop28 launch event
  • An artist at work on an Emirati scene at the Road to Cop28 launch
    An artist at work on an Emirati scene at the Road to Cop28 launch
  • A model of an onyx – a UAE conservation success story – at the launch event
    A model of an onyx – a UAE conservation success story – at the launch event
  • A performer wearing a dress made from recycled material at the Road to Cop28 launch event at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai
    A performer wearing a dress made from recycled material at the Road to Cop28 launch event at Al Wasl Plaza, Expo City Dubai
Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

Key changes

Commission caps

For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:

• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term). 

• On the protection component, there is a cap  of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).

• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated. 

• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.

• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.

Disclosure

Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.

“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”

Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.

Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.

“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.

Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.

Six large-scale objects on show
  • Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
  • The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
  • A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
  • A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
  • Torrijos Palace dome
Profile of Tarabut Gateway

Founder: Abdulla Almoayed

Based: UAE

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 35

Sector: FinTech

Raised: $13 million

Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.

PROFILE OF SWVL

Started: April 2017

Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport

Size: 450 employees

Investment: approximately $80 million

Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani

Squads

Sri Lanka Tharanga (c), Mathews, Dickwella (wk), Gunathilaka, Mendis, Kapugedera, Siriwardana, Pushpakumara, Dananjaya, Sandakan, Perera, Hasaranga, Malinga, Chameera, Fernando.

India Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Rahane, Jadhav, Dhoni (wk), Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Thakur.

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
How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

The%20Little%20Mermaid%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rob%20Marshall%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHalle%20Bailey%2C%20Jonah%20Hauer-King%2C%20Melissa%20McCarthy%2C%20Javier%20Bardem%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan

Four stars

The Specs:

The Specs:

Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 444bhp

Torque: 600Nm

Price: AED 356,580 incl VAT

On sale: now.

Updated: April 29, 2023, 2:39 PM