In order to ensure lasting security in the Gulf region, the UAE government opposes sectarian strife and terrorist activity in the Middle East. UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has decried the activity of extremists and terrorists in nearby Bahrain, which has significantly destabilized an otherwise peaceful and tolerant society. The UAE also supports the revival of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, as well as a stable and calm Egypt. When it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, the UAE supports the mission of the Group 5+1.
One of the most economically prosperous countries in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) works hard to promote security and stability in the region. The UAE belongs to the Gulf Cooperation Council, a six-nation panel that oversees joint projects in a wide range of areas. The UAE also belongs to international organizations such as the Arab Peace Initiative, the Arab League, the Arab Quartet, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
In order to ensure lasting security in the Gulf region, the UAE government opposes sectarian strife and terrorist activity in the Middle East. UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has decried the activity of extremists and terrorists in nearby Bahrain, which has significantly destabilized an otherwise peaceful and tolerant society. The UAE also supports the revival of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, as well as a stable and calm Egypt. When it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, the UAE supports the mission of the Group 5+1. A fast-growing nation with significant economic influence in the Middle East and beyond, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consists of seven emirates. Each emirate exists as a largely autonomous state and falls under the leadership of one ruler. In each emirate, a modern administrative system exists alongside more historical traditions, such as majlis, the councils where tribesmen express their opinions to their rulers directly.
All seven emirates form the larger federation, which provides political structure and assumes responsibility for a number of key functions. In particular, the federal government oversees foreign relations, nationality and immigration issues, communications services, air traffic control, security and defense, and more. Although the federal government has existed since the formation of the UAE in 1971, Abu Dhabi became the official capital of the federation in 1996. Currently, the ruler of Dubai serves as the prime minister of the UAE, while the ruler of Abu Dhabi serves as the UAE president. In recent years, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have worked together to strengthen commercial activity between the two nations. In 2013, the UAE-British Business Council held its fourth meeting in Manchester. Co-chaired by government officials from both countries, the meeting discussed a wide range of important topics, from education and health care to energy and finance.
At the meeting, the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development discussed the positive impact of the UK’s experience on the UAE’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), an area of particular importance to the working groups of the council. In addition to SMEs, participants at the meeting focused on the growing roles of multinational corporations and the potential for joint business endeavors in third-party markets. Several officials praised the establishment of the Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Entrepreneurs and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, both of which support a broad range of startup companies and enterprises at the state level. In recent years, the United Arab Emirates has begun paying increasing attention to important environmental issues. Through the Ministry of Environment and Water, the UAE has enacted a number of measures to promote a sustainable environment and improve public health whenever possible.
In particular, the UAE recently set out to reduce the use of plastic bags, which resist degradation in the environment and can harm a number of animals on both land and sea. The county also works hard to educate travelers on issues such as veterinary and agricultural quarantine and increase supplies of water and food in a highly sustainable manner. On a larger scale, the Mubadala Development Company in Abu Dhabi uses its Masdar subsidiary to tackle projects related to carbon emission reduction, energy conservation, and renewable energy generation. The residential unit known as Masdar City, which operates on solar power alone, will serve as the permanent headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). In 2013, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth and UK Trade & Investment Offices announced a joint project to improve the UK’s reputation as a business-friendly destination. Through its embassies in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the British government plans to increase Emirati investment in British projects and companies and encourage the development of commercial partnerships between the two countries.
Today, the British government works closely with UAE partners to create an open and stable economy with minimal impact on the environment. The UAE-based renewable energy company Masdar recently partnered with the London Array to construct a massive offshore wind park in the UK, which will include some 175 turbines spread across 90 square miles. On the other side of the equation, the British government nurtures the growth of UAE markets so British businesses can benefit from mutual investment and trade. Foster + Partners currently serves as the lead planner for Masdar City, an ambitious environmental project focused on creating the first zero-waste, zero-carbon city in the world. A successful international legal professional with nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Shahram Shirkhani currently works as a founding partner of the International Law Firm of Shirkhani & Alavi in Tehran, Iran. In this capacity, Dr. Shahram Shirkhani provides legal services for clients in nations throughout the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In the fast-growing Emirate of Dubai, the government adheres to the provisions of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which encompasses a wide range of social and economic goals.
In particular, the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 features a number of guidelines regarding the development of infrastructure, land, and the environment. In the wake of rapid growth over the past 15 years, the government recognized the importance of developing roads and transport systems to facilitate movement about the Emirate. In addition to providing efficient energy and water supplies throughout the region, the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 calls for a commitment to sustainable environmental practices. |
AuthorDr. Shahram Shirkhani works on behalf of prominent multinational corporations and financial institutions in addition to private entities based in Iran and surrounding countries. Archives
February 2016
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