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Tag: UAE

  • Israeli companies display weapons at UAE defence fair

    Israeli companies display weapons at UAE defence fair

    Israeli arms manufacturers on Monday showcased their weapons and other products at a defence fair in the United Arab Emirates, amid a fragile ceasefire in a 15-month war that has devastated the Gaza Strip.

    An Israeli pavilion stands among industry giants at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), held in the Gulf country’s capital Abu Dhabi until Friday.

    “We are very pleased to be here,” said Boaz Levy, the president and CEO of IAI, ranked among the 100 largest arms companies in the world in 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

    Last year, as civilian casualties mounted in Gaza, the French government banned Israeli companies from setting up stands or exhibiting hardware at the Euronaval defence trade fair. The decision was later thrown out by a Paris court.

    According to SIPRI, the three Israeli manufacturers in the ranking, prominently featured at the Abu Dhabi show, recorded a record turnover of $13.6 billion in 2023, driven by Israel’s offensive on Gaza.

    But for Levy, this has not stopped them from collaborating with allies in the region.

    “Of course, some of our products are there (in Gaza), but we are a company that deals with technology and giving the end user the capabilities… required in the field, and that’s what we are doing on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

    The UAE normalised ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords brokered by the United States during the first Donald Trump administration.

    Since then, Israeli arm manufacturer EMTAN has attended every defence fair in Abu Dhabi.

    “We work a lot with the Abraham” countries, said sales manager Ron Pollak, whose firm makes small arms, rifles, pistols and submachine guns.

    “We really, really enjoy the hospitality and the friendship that we encounter here in the UAE.”

  • NAB comes out swinging against Bahria Town project in Dubai; Malik Riaz calls it blackmail

    NAB comes out swinging against Bahria Town project in Dubai; Malik Riaz calls it blackmail

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday cautioned the public against investing in Bahria Town’s new real estate project in Dubai, emphasising that the government was reaching out to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek property tycoon Malik Riaz’s extradition through legal avenues. 

    “Mr Malik Riaz is residing in Dubai, UAE. He has recently launched a project for the construction of luxury apartments in Dubai, UAE. The general public at large is hereby advised and warned to refrain from investing in the stated project. If the general public at large invests in the stated project, their actions would tantamount to money laundering, for which they may face criminal/ legal proceedings,” the anti-corruption watchdog said in a press release carried by Radio Pakistan on Tuesday. 

    It added, “The government of Pakistan is reaching out to the government of UAE for the extradition of Malik Riaz through legal channels.”

    Pakistan and the UAE do have an extradition treaty, and Islamabad can legally request the Gulf country to extradite the real estate mogul.

    The development came following the conviction of former Premier Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al Qadir Trust case, commonly known as the 190 Million Pounds case, in which both were sentenced to 14 years and seven years in jail, respectively.

    Property tycoon Malik Riaz and his son are also co-accused and proclaimed offenders in the Al Qadir Trust case.  

    NAB recounted that Malik Riaz was wanted by the court with the watchdog already having frozen innumerable assets belonging to him and to Bahria Town.

    NAB was conducting investigations against Malik Riaz and his associates for “fraud, deceptive practices and cheating public at large,” said the anti-corruption watchdog.

    The watchdog said it had “cogent and credible information about the fact that Mr Malik Riaz and his accomplices have not only illegally possessed/occupied state-owned land but also land belonging to private persons situated at Karachi, Takht-Pari, Rawalpindi and New Murree.

    “He is using these lands for developing housing societies without obtaining mandatory/required regulatory permissions/no objection certificates and has committed fraud against the state and general public at large to the tune of billions of rupees.”


    NAB alleged that the property tycoon was developing housing societies under the name of Bahria Town “in a duplicitous manner” in other cities, including Peshawar and Jamshoro, by “illegally possessing/occupying land” and failing to procure the same mandatory regulatory permissions and legal documents.

    It added that he continued to “defraud the general public at large by selling them plots/files in these illegal housing societies” despite neither he nor Bahria Town having a “good/clear title” to any of the lands in “these illegal housing societies”.

    In reply, Malik Riaz declared the press release a blackmail tactic, threatening to unleash the “storm” within him. 

    “NAB’s baseless press release today is actually a new blackmailing demand. I am holding back, but there is a storm within me. If this dam breaks, then everyone’s façade will shatter. Don’t forget that the secrets of the past 25–30 years are preserved along with evidence,” he warned on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

    Riaz stressed that he will neither be used against anyone nor will anyone blackmail him, adding, “My decision yesterday was the same as it is today: no matter how much oppression you inflict, I (Malik Riaz) will not testify.”

  • UAE, Saudi Arabia & others deport 63 Pakistanis within 24 hours

    UAE, Saudi Arabia & others deport 63 Pakistanis within 24 hours

    At least 63 Pakistani nationals have been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Malaysia within 24 hours.

    Reports quoted airport sources as saying that the Pakistani nationals were deported over visa violations, after which they landed at Karachi airport and were allowed to return to their homes following legal procedures.

    Of the 63 deported individuals, 29 were sent back to the country from Saudi Arabia. Among them, four were involved in begging, 15 in fraudulent activities and 10 others for overstaying their visas.

    As many as 16 Pakistani nationals were deported from Malaysia as prohibited immigrants whereas 11 were sent back from Iraq after issuance of emergency passports due to illegal entry and overstaying.

    Additionally, four Pakistani nationals were deported from the UAE for having expired visas.

    It merits a mention that this isn’t the first time Pakistani nationals have been deported from a foreign country over said issues, especially due to being involved in begging.

    On October 1, 2024, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) immigration wing apprehended eight individuals from the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi for attempting to travel on fake documents for begging abroad.

    Five of these passengers were detained while trying to leave for Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing Umrah. The individuals, identified as Noori Anwar, Aasia Bibi, Sameena Bibi, Sakeena Bibi and Muhammad Akram, were stopped during immigration clearance.

    Among the other three were Salman, Muhammad Noman and Muhammad Hussain, all of whom were flagged during immigration checks for a flight to Azerbaijan. Fake study visas and at least one fake German visa was recovered from the passengers.

    On December 23, 2024, the FIA’s immigration wing also held three women passengers at the Sialkot International Airport for being involved in begging in Saudi Arabia.

    Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia also formally urged Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to address the growing issue of Pakistani beggars entering the Kingdom with Umrah visas. A recent letter sent to the Ministry of Religious Affairs warned that if the situation was not resolved, it would result in disruptions for Pakistani pilgrims.

    In response, Pakistan informed Saudi Arabia of the steps taken by the government against the “mafia” that sends beggars to the Kingdom. During a meeting with Deputy Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia Dr Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Dawood, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi said that the names of around 4,300 beggars were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) as zero tolerance policy had been adopted against beggars going to the Kingdom.

  • Reason behind UAE president’s ‘private visit’ to Pakistan revealed

    Reason behind UAE president’s ‘private visit’ to Pakistan revealed

    A day after a viral video showed Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif having a candid chat with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, netizens are speculating the circumstances surrounding the “sudden and mysterious” visit of the Emirati royal.

    On Sunday, PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, was spotted meeting the UAE president at the Rahim Yar Khan International Airport.

    The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including economic collaboration, regional stability, climate change, and the promotion of mutual interests on the global stage, a statement issued by the PM Office said following a high-level meeting.

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    During the meeting, the statement added, President Nayhan underscored the UAE government’s keen interest in collaborating with Pakistan in the mining, minerals and agriculture sectors.

    “Delighted to meet with my dear brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Presi­dent of UAE, today in Rahimyar Khan. Reaffir­med Pakistan’s strong commitment to further strengthen Pak-UAE cooperation and elevate our ties to a mutually beneficial strategic partnership. Matters of mutual interest, including investments in Pakistan, were discussed with a resolve to move forward together [sic],” PM Shehbaz said in a post later in the day.

    However, with the sudden visit and meeting taking many by surprise, social media users were seen speculating the reason behind the same.

    Amid unverified claims, The Current has received exclusive details behind the Emirati royal’s private visit to Pakistan.

    According to sources, the UAE president, along with Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, arrived at the Chandna Airstrip in Bahawalpur on Wednesday. The royals departed for their palace in southern Punjab’s Cholistan via two special helicopters.

    “The Emirati royals are in Pakistan to engage in falconry and hunting during their one-week stay,” sources said, adding that they often privately visited the country from November to February to hunt Asian Houbara bustards.

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    The Houbara bustard is a desert bird similar in size to a chicken. It is an endangered migratory bird that was once common in the Arabian Peninsula. Thousands of these birds migrate from Central Asia to Pakistan in winters.

    While hunting the Houbara bustard is illegal in the country due to its declining numbers, the Pakistani government often makes exceptions for Middle Eastern dignitaries, issuing yearly hunting permits.

    The government argues that foreign hunters bring investment to underdeveloped areas, which contributes to the development of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and roads. Locals also get jobs during the hunting season, it maintains.

  • Emirates bans pagers, walkie-talkies onboard after Lebanon blasts

    Emirates bans pagers, walkie-talkies onboard after Lebanon blasts

    Dubai-based airline Emirates has banned pagers and walkie-talkies onboard its planes following sabotage attacks in Lebanon and extended flight cancellations for Middle East destinations due to regional escalation.

    “All Passengers travelling on flights to, from or via Dubai are prohibited from transporting pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage,” the carrier said, weeks after a wave of exploding communication devices used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which blamed Israel for the attacks.

    In a statement posted on its website on Friday, Emirates said that “such items found in passengers’ hand luggage or checked baggage will be confiscated by Dubai Police.”

    The blasts last month killed at least 37 people and wounded nearly 3,000 across Lebanon.

    Emirates, the Middle East’s biggest airline, also announced that its Iraq and Iran routes will remain suspended until Tuesday.

    The cancellations were first announced in the wake of a major Iranian attack on Israel this week that saw missiles flying over Iraq and Iran.

    Emirates said its flights to Jordan, which were also suspended, would resume on Sunday.

    Flights to and from Lebanon will remain suspended until October 15, Emirates said, as Israel steps up attacks on the country, including parts of the capital near its only airport.

    Several other carriers have also put some services to and from Beirut and other Middle East airports on hold.

  • Govt to regulate falcon trade

    Govt to regulate falcon trade

    The federal government has directed relevant authorities to streamline the import and export of falcons, ensuring that birds that are brought into Pakistan are taken back by their owners and not exchanged.

    In a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority on September 4, a Ministry of Climate Change representative stressed the need to tag falcons with microchips and identification passports, Dawn News reported.

    Officials were hopeful that these actions will prevent the exchange or illegal trade of the birds and added, “This is a transit permission, not related to the commercial trade of species.”

    The development came after previous incidents where Gulf princes took young falcons along with them and abandoned injured and aged birds, which were later illegally trapped in Pakistan and sold on the country’s black market; this raised concerns about wildlife exploitation, prompting strict rules to protect the birds.

  • PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    PM Shehbaz Sharif credits ‘friendly nations’ for securing IMF deal

    Prime Minister (PM) Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has acknowledged the efforts of friendly countries for facilitating Pakistan in securing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme.

    Speaking to young parliamentarians of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), he lauded the efforts of China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, the Army Chief and the incumbent government’s economic plan team.

    PM Sharif said that he hoped the upcoming IMF programme would be the last.

    He clarified that there will be no tolerance for tax evasion and stressed extending tax collection.

    Journalist Fakhar Durrani revealed in Talk SHOCK, a YouTube channel, that the IMF demanded two things from the Pakistan government before approving a seven-billion-dollar loan.

    He claimed that the first demand was a two billion dollars guarantee, which the government fulfilled by securing it from Standard Chartered Bank; the second demand was also fulfilled by securing a guarantee from Saudi Arabia on the deferred oil payment.

  • Shah Rukh Khan returns to UAE as IIFA Awards host

    Shah Rukh Khan returns to UAE as IIFA Awards host

    Shah Rukh Khan, the King of Bollywood, is set to return to the UAE as the host of the prestigious International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, which will take place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi this year.

    Since the awards’ inception in 2000, Shah Rukh Khan has hosted the ceremony, won several awards, and been a star performer. There is thus a huge slice of the history of these awards that is shaped by his association with it.

    Among the several IIFA awards won by Khan, this actor won Best Actor for films like ‘Devdas’ in 2003, ‘Veer-Zaara’ in 2005, and ‘My Name is Khan’ in 2011. The performances of this genius at IIFA Awards are still fresh in the memory of fans worldwide, be it his dance to ‘Veer-Zaara’ songs in the year 2005 or a medley of hits in the year 2013.

    It’s going to be a huge celebration of Indian films IIFA Awards 2024 with Shah Rukh Khan as the host, bringing together fans and stars worldwide.
    Recently, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera, a Career Leopard at the 77th Locarno Film Festival.

  • July remittances post significant hike

    July remittances post significant hike

    The Pakistani diaspora has sent $3 billion back home in July, 48 percent higher than the previous year, The News has reported.
    State Bank Pakistan (SBP) data shows that remittances from Saudi Arabia increased by 56 percent to $761 million in July, while those from the United Arab Emirates increased by $611 million.
    The percentage reflected a 94 percent surge from the UAE compared to July 2023.

    Remittances from the United Kingdom totaled $443 million, a 45 percent increase from the previous year. Workers also sent $300 million from the United States, a 24 percent hike from last July.
    The research director at AKD Securities Limited, Awais Ashraf said, ‘’This increase is mainly due to the movement of worker remittance into the formal channel, spurred by the reduced rate difference between exchange companies and the interbank market’’.

    Throughout FY24, Pakistan posted a current account deficit of $681 million, equivalent to 0.2 percent of the gross domestic product.

  • UAE Princess Shaikha Mahra divorces husband in Instagram post

    UAE Princess Shaikha Mahra divorces husband in Instagram post

    Princess Shaikha Mahra of Dubai announced her divorce from Sheikh Mana on Instagram. The couple had a daughter just two months ago.
    Shaikha Mahra (Princess) posted a picture with the caption, “Dear Husband, As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I Divorce You. Take care. Your ex-wife.”


    Social media response to her announcement was divided; some praised her choice, others believed it should remain secret. The princess is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
     
    Sheikh Mana and Princess Shaikha Mahra tied the knot on May 28, 2023. The princess has unfollowed her ex-husband on Instagram and deleted some of their shared photos.