A general view of the largest popular market in Gaza City on February 13, 2018.

UN thanks the UAE for support in Gaza

Appreciation shown for response to unsustainable humanitarian and economic situation

February 21, 2018

The United Nations has thanked the UAE for its support in efforts to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Nickolay Mladenov, the special UN co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, thanked the UAE during a briefing at the Security Council on Tuesday for immediately responding to the unsustainable humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza, Wam reported.

He also communicated the secretary-general’s appreciation for the UAE's support.

"The immediate response to our appeal has helped stave off further deterioration," Mr Mladenov said.

He told the Security Council that more Palestinians had been displaced due to the seizure and demolition of 31 Palestinian-owned structures.

"I urge Israel to cease this practice," he said.

The memorial on Abu Dhabi's Corniche will serve as a tribute to achievements of the country's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.

New memorial to commemorate the life of Sheikh Zayed to be unveiled on Monday

Founder's Memorial on Abu Dhabi Corniche features 'monumental artwork'

February 21, 2018

A new "monumental artwork" to honour the life of the late Sheikh Zayed will be formally unveiled on Monday, February 26.

The Founder's Memorial will be the centrepiece of a site on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, to coincide with the Year of Zayed, according to the official news agency WAM.

All major TV channels will broadcast the ceremony, says WAM, and it will also be streamed both on the Founder's Memorial Facebook page.and on Instagram @FounderMemorial.

Members of the public will have to wait until the spring to visit the memorial, which is described as offering visitors "a range of personal encounters with the late Sheikh Zayed as a man and a leader, enabling people to gain a deeper understanding of his life, legacy and values".

The Founder's Memorial was originally due to open in late January but was postponed at the last minute "until further notice" according an earlier post on the official Facebook page.

On January 28, the death of Sheikha Hessa, the mother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, was announced, followed by three days of official mourning.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pictured in Kuwait on Tuesday. Courtesy: Wam

UAE and Gulf states pledge billions for Iraq

$23 billion needed urgently in short term loans after ISIL destruction

February 14, 2018

Arabian Gulf countries and institutions have pledged almost 10 per cent of the estimated $88 billion needed to rebuild Iraq after the country's gruelling three-year war with ISIL.

The pledges came on the final day of an international donor conference in Kuwait where Iraqi officials have made the case for foreign investment in what they said would be "a new Iraq".

The loans and investments will go toward the projected $88 billion the World Bank said is needed for reconstruction in Iraq. Vast swaths of territory remain devastated because of damage inflicted by ISIL and in subsequent battles against the insurgents.

Pledges were still expected to fall short of the level desired. Officials have earmarked the urgent need for $23 billion in short term loans, with the remaining $65 billion to be gathered over the mid term. Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a total of $30 billion had been secured at the conference. That figure, however, included not only the contributions made by the 76 countries attending but also international organisations and private sector deals. It was also unclear how much of the $30 billion represented loans.

Iraq's public finances remain dependent on oil and the government is also trying to modernise an economy that has long suffered from corruption and bureaucracy. The aim is to attract and absorb private sector foreign investors. Such finance, donor countries said, is necessary to raise the total funds needed for Iraq.

Contributions came in two forms, loans, where countries are giving to Iraq reconstruction projects, and investments from both the private and government sector.

We discuss Iraq's reconstruction efforts in this week's edition of Beyond the Headlines podcast:

Senior officials told The National the loans made by several of the countries are at low interest rates and given with the presumption of default.

Sheikh Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait and host of the three day international donor conference, announced on Wednesday $1-billion in loans for reconstruction projects in Iraq and another $1-billion of investments to help rebuild areas wrecked by ISIL.

"Iraq is required today to start a comprehensive reconstruction of the infrastructure and facilities that were destroyed. It cannot be undertaken alone, which calls us to the international community to take part of this mission,” he said on the last day of the conference in Kuwait City.

The pledge came as a surprise as Iraq is also set to resume payments to fully meet the $4.6 billion still owed to Kuwait in reparations for the destruction of oil production during the Gulf War.

Turkey announced $5 billion in loan funds and credit easing, while the Islamic Development Bank announced a contribution of $500 million.

Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, announced the United Arab Emirates would pledge $500 million.

Dr Gargash later tweeted that there would also be $5.5 billion from the UAE in private investments in Iraq "in addition" to his country’s pledge but it was not clear if this was a new announcement.

Saudi Arabia pledged $1.5 billion while the Kuwait-based Arab Fund says Iraq will receive $1.5 billion in infrastructure aid in coming years.

Qatar, which has been isolated from a quartet of Arab nations, announced it would contribute $1 billion with Germany pledging another 400 million euros, and the European Union 400 million euros.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi said he was looking forward to "real and strategic" partnerships, as well as collaborations with countries in the region.

Mr Al Abadi said that the Iraqi "vision" would rely on the principle of cooperation for Iraq to become a "gateway for joint interests".

“It was a bloody and tough war, our homes were destroyed, schools devastated, streets turned into battlefields, we tolerated this because not only were we fighting for Iraq but for all humanity,” he said.

Mr Abadi also said Baghdad was seeking to restore confidence in an international community suffering from donor fatigue.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to address the scope of devastation that the war in Iraq has caused, saying the UN is firmly committed to the reconstruction process in Baghdad, which he reiterated would be a "daunting task... to ensure a unified nation."

The UN chief also highlighted the need for an "all-inclusive reconciliation process", calling on Iraqi authorities to abide by UN Resolution 1325, which addresses the impacts of armed conflicts on women.

Emiratis will have up to Dh500,000 of travel insurance cover when they go abroad. Hospitals would directly bill insurers in the UAE, so travellers involved in an accident for example wouldn't have to publish anything up front.

New travel insurance for Emiratis to fund up to Dh500,000 of treatment

Scheme designed to ensure comprehensive cover is at hand in the event of an accident

February 20, 2018

New insurance cover will allow Emiratis to receive up to Dh500,000 of medical treatment should they be injured when travelling.

The Musafir comprehensive health coverage was launched on Monday in cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the National Health Insurance Company Daman.

The cover is direct billing, meaning that UAE citizens would not have to come up with any cash for treatment and doctors or hospitals would directly bill the UAE insurer.

“This programme comes in line with the Ministry's keenness to provide UAE citizens with the best medical care required in emergency situations,” said Ahmed Elham Al Dhaheri, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs.

He said there has been a steady increase in the number of citizens travelling abroad every year - in addition to a rise in the number of Emiratis facing health emergencies such as traffic accidents.

Those leaving the country can apply for Musafir through Daman's website www.musafer.ae.

Musafir covers all emergency services, whether inside or outside the hospital and subscribers have access to a dedicated 24-hour call centre on the number: 4184181 009712

Khaled Abdullah Almass, a board member of Daman, said the cover uses the internationally recognised agent Assist America, which will mediate with the medical facility to ensure treatment is arranged and paid for.