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Italian defence and aerospace company Leonardo will unveil its tiltrotor AW609 fixed wing aircraft in the helicopter terminal at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The nine-seat aircraft combines the hovering, vertical take-off and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and high altitude of an aeroplane.
Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo's chief executive, said the company saw significant opportunities in the Middle East, North America, Europe, Japan and Australia for the AW609, that can use heliports in crowded areas and reach remote areas for medical missions.
I connect the Expo a little bit with the Olympics because people are coming together from all over the world
Alessandro Profumo,
Leonardo's chief executive
“It has the flexibility of a helicopter, so you can take off and land in the middle of a city and you can also fly above the clouds,” he told The National in an interview.
“The helicopter has some constraints if it’s raining or very cloudy. But this can be used for emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, if you want to bring a person who had an accident to a hospital and also for VIP transport.”
The aircraft was flown from Italy to Dubai for its debut outside Europe and the US.
The plane can change the position of its engines in less than 60 seconds, fly at more than 500 kilometres an hour and has a range of almost 1,400 kilometres.
The programme is expected to receive US FAA certification "soon", the company said. Supplies to customers would then begin.
The plane is parked at the VIP helicopter terminal on the Expo 2020 site that the company has built in co-operation with Abu Dhabi’s Falcon Aviation Services.
Helicopter transport services to the Expo site are being operated by Falcon Aviation.
The helicopter terminal, located behind the China pavilion, is not open to the general public. It has six parking spaces and has been busy from day one.
In the three hours of the opening ceremony on Thursday, there were more than 40 take-offs and landings, mainly celebrities and businesspeople using the company’s AW139 models.
A continuous flow of VIP traffic is expected all through the Expo, on average about 20 take-offs and landings a day.
The UAE is an important market for Leonardo, with more than 100 helicopters used in the country for VIP transport, medical services and law enforcement.
The company was part of the last world's fair, in Milan in 2015, where it set up a main operation centre.
Mr Profumo said the company was keen to be part of the Expo 20202 Dubai because of its focus on future technology.
Along with Telespazio, a European space flight services company, Leonardo has launched T-Tec, a tech contest during the Expo open to students and researchers on the future of the space sector.
“I connect the Expo a little bit with the Olympics because people are coming together from all over the world,” he said.
“It creates national pride for different sites and also a sense of community.
“The Expo for Milan was an incredible catalyst of change for local communities.
"And in Dubai Expo, connecting is the key world. It’s an incredible opportunity to challenge yourself.”
In the UAE, Leonardo also has partnerships in security and shipbuilding, it supplies the MB-339 trainer jet for the UAE national aerobatic team Al Fursan.
The UAE Navy uses Leonardo's naval defence and combat management systems.
Cyber security, counter drone systems, coastal and border security are among other priority areas.
“The sea domain is important for the region,” Mr Profumo said.
“The next war will be cyber for sure, and we focus on protecting critical infrastructure on the cyber and physical side.”
The company launched its VIP helicopters and travel services under a related new name Agusta and unveiled the heliport called Casa Agusta at a formal ceremony at the Expo site on Saturday night.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Pathaan
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Labour dispute
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
