• Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (in vehicle), arrives at Qasr Al Watan to meet President Sheikh Mohamed. All photos: Presidential Court
    Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (in vehicle), arrives at Qasr Al Watan to meet President Sheikh Mohamed. All photos: Presidential Court
  • The two presidents at Qasr Al Watan
    The two presidents at Qasr Al Watan
  • Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court (2nd L), attends the meeting with Mr da Silva (not shown)
    Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court (2nd L), attends the meeting with Mr da Silva (not shown)
  • Sheikh Mohamed and Mr da Silva witness an exchange ceremony between the State of Bahia and the Refinaria de Mataripe company
    Sheikh Mohamed and Mr da Silva witness an exchange ceremony between the State of Bahia and the Refinaria de Mataripe company
  • Sheikh Mohamed and Mr da Silva exchange words
    Sheikh Mohamed and Mr da Silva exchange words
  • The two presidents inspect the guard of honour at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi
    The two presidents inspect the guard of honour at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi
  • Standing for the national anthems
    Standing for the national anthems
  • Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to his Brazilian counterpart (not shown), concluding the official reception
    Sheikh Mohamed bids farewell to his Brazilian counterpart (not shown), concluding the official reception

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva arrives in UAE


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  • Arabic

President Sheikh Mohamed received his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Abu Dhabi after he arrived for an official visit.

The Brazilian President was welcomed by Sheikh Mohamed at Qasr Al Watan where he attended an official reception.

Mr da Silva's convoy was accompanied by a guard of honour consisting of riders on horseback. The official reception ceremony included a performance of the national anthem of Brazil, a 21-gun artillery salute and a flypast by the UAE Air Force aerobatics team 'Al Fursan', trailing smoke in the colours of the Brazilian flag, Wam news agency reported.

"I had the pleasure of welcoming President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the UAE. Brazil has long been a key strategic partner of the UAE," Sheikh Mohamed said in a tweet.

"Our talks explored further opportunities for collaboration focused on sustainability, innovation & economic opportunity."

He was accompanied by his wife First Lady Rosangela Lula da Silva.

Earlier on Saturday, at his arrival at the Presidential Flight in Abu Dhabi, President Lula was received by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and head of the UAE delegation accompanying the Brazilian President, and a number of other officials, Wam said.

The visit marks Mr da Silva’s second official visit to the UAE. His first was in December 2003 during his first term as the President.

It is his first visit to an Arab country since beginning his third term in office.

The UAE is one of Brazil's largest trading partners in the Middle East. In 2022, bilateral trade rose to $5.7 billion, a 74 per cent increase in comparison to 2021. Agribusiness accounts for almost 60 per cent of Brazilian exports to the UAE.

The UAE will host Cop28 UN climate summit later this year at Expo City Dubai. Brazil has bid to host Cop30 in 2025.

This year's event is expected to be attended by about 70,000 participants, including heads of state, government officials, leaders of global industrial sectors, representatives of the private sector and climate experts.

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now

While you're here
Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

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Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Updated: April 16, 2023, 8:11 AM