In this handout picture released by the US Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) passes by the smoke from a suspected pirate skiff it had just disabled. Courtesy: Cassandra Thompson / US Navy
In this handout picture released by the US Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) passes by the smoke from a suspected pirate skiff it had just disabled. Courtesy: Cassandra Thompson / US Navy
In this handout picture released by the US Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) passes by the smoke from a suspected pirate skiff it had just disabled. Courtesy: Cassandra Thompson / US Navy
In this handout picture released by the US Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) passes by the smoke from a suspected pirate skiff it had just disabled. Courtesy

Updated: UAE's bid for International Maritime Organisation council seat would 'boost security'


Ramola Talwar Badam
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's bid for a seat in a select decision making body of the International Maritime Organisation will help the country take strategic decisions for its security and benefit local and regional industry.

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Transport Authority, on Monday outlined the steps the country was taking to secure a seat competing against 12 other nations for a voice in a global authority that sets standards for maritime security.

"We are the only Arab country among the 12 countries seeking 10 seats. Being a member of the IMO's executive council we will be well placed and will have first hand information that we can use for our security," Mr Al Nuaimi said.

"It will also give us early knowledge of IMO regulations to help us take future decisions to build infrastructure not only for the maritime industry but for commerce and industry of the UAE.”

Voting will take place during the IMO's general assembly meeting between November 24 and December 5 in London.

The other countries in the fray include Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, France and Australia.

The IMO, an agency of the United Nations, also issues guidance to protect seafarers and has  worked with the industry and governments to create guidelines to prevent piracy, particularly off the coast of Somali, and on the use of private security companies in high risk areas.

__________

Read more

__________

After the hijacking of the tanker Aris 13 off Somalia in March, the first major hijacking in the region since 2012,  IMO secretary general Kitack Lim urged the industry to follow IMO guidance to avoid piracy attacks.

“The reality is that piracy off the coast of Somalia has not been eradicated and the underlying conditions have not changed,” he had said.

"Merchant shipping should continue to take protective measures against possible piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean through diligent application of IMO guidance."

The UAE’s proximity to key sea routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandab make maritime security a crucial issue particularly with ships leaving the country’s shores that have been targeted by Somali pirates and Houthi attacks on merchant vessels, a fallout from the Yemen conflict.

Mr Al Nuaimi said while the country has been a member of the IMO since 1981, they were not able to take part in the decision making process.

“When you have the ability of being part of making legislation you become aware that you can protect not only the borders. We will have first hand information to build for the future of the maritime industry because the executive office is the place where regulations, systems and future decisions are made,” he said.

The authority has also been dealing with a rising number of ships abandoned off the country’s shores by owners impacted by the drop in oil prices. The FTA said last month it was working with consular and aid workers to deal with more than a dozen ships off the country’s coast and warned ship owners and agents against abandoning the men.

Mr Al Nuaimi said the authority would continue to work to provide relief to the seafarers.

“This is a human issue. We are doing what we can to because don’t want to see people suffering.”

The IMO also promotes cooperation between governments in prevention and control of marine pollution from ships.

A seat on the executive council will give the country a head start on regulations that need to be framed and also help influence decisions that could impact the region.

“Abiding by IMO regulations is compulsory as of 2016, prior to that it was optional. So in future it would be difficult to bypass any regulation put forward by IMO,” Mr Al Nuaimi said.

“But if there are decisions that might hamper our interests on the seas, we can say ‘no.’ If there are restricted regulations we feel hamper our economy or interests we would definitely seek colleagues, friends and other countries that also say ‘no’.”

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
Essentials

The flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours. 

The package

Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.

Episode list:

Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery 

Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges 

Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic 

Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks 

Ep5: Travel and tourism 

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

MATCH INFO

England 241-3 (20 ovs)

Malan 130 no, Morgan 91

New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)

Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47

England win by 76 runs

Series level at 2-2

Results for Stage 2

Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race

Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)

Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)

Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin

Favourite film: Marvel movies

Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence

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 

The%20Letter%20Writer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Layla%20Kaylif%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eslam%20Al%20Kawarit%2C%20Rosy%20McEwen%2C%20Muhammad%20Amir%20Nawaz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A