Mohammed, Romanian PM hold talks

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received visiting Prime Minister of Romania, Victor Ponta, at Zabeel Palace on Monday.

Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the Romanian Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation, wishing the visit would contribute towards further enhancing bilateral relations between the friendly countries and peoples.

As he welcomed Romanian companies, businessmen and tourists, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised the desire of the UAE leadership, government and people to open up new, constructive channels of communication with sisterly and friendly countries in order to serve everyone's national higher interests.

On his part, the Romanian Prime Minister said the president, the government and the people of Romania were eager to expand the scope of cooperation and contacts with the UAE at government and non-government levels.

He said that a high-level Romanian delegation comprising senior government officials and representatives of the private sector will visit the UAE this month to hold expanded meetings with their UAE counterparts to discuss the possibility of forging broad investment and trade partnerships.

Additionally, Prime Minister Ponta also welcomed the UAE's investments in Romania, notably in agricultural and animal sectors, in which Romania has a long experience.

He expressed his profound thanks to Sheikh Mohammed, his government and the people of the UAE for treating wonderfully the more than 7,000 strong Romanian community members, who are working and living in the UAE peacefully and with respect.

The Romanian Prime Minister expressed his hope that more flights by flydubai between Dubai and Romania would become operational, adding to the four flights per week currently.

He noted that air traffic contributes positively to extending bridges of communication between people and increasing trade and tourism exchange.

Later, Sheikh Mohammed and the Romanian Prime Minister witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries.

An agreement on mutual visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and special passports, and a memoranda of understanding regarding political consultations, higher education and scientific research were inked by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Romanian Minister of Education.

Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and the Romanian minister of economy, trade and tourism signed an agreement on avoidance of double taxation on income.

Sheikh Mohmmed and Ponta expressed hope that these agreements would lay down the building block for increasing trade exchange, which stands at $400 million a year.

They also hoped for a further push in tourism, cultural and investment relations to serve the mutual interests of the friendly countries and peoples.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Dubai Ruler's Court, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai's Protocol Department, and Adrian Macelaru, Ambassador of Romanian to the UAE, attended the meeting and signing ceremony.

Mohammed receives top Chinese official

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received Zhao Leji, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Head of the CPC Organisation Department, at Zabeel Place on Monday.

Welcoming Leji, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his confidence that the visit of the top Chinese official would enable the UAE to open new prospects for broader bilateral cooperation to serve both friendly countries and their peoples.

Sheikh Mohammed and Leji exchanged talks on a variety of regional and international topics of mutual concern, notably the tremendous and common challenge of combating terrorism.

The meeting also recognised the importance of solidifying ties of cooperation and friendship between the UAE and the People's Republic of China, particularly in areas of tourism and culture, both of which receive significant attention in public and private circles.

Sheikh Mohammed said Chinese companies operating in the UAE were receiving all kinds of care and facilities necessary to expand their business and investment operations.

The two parties also discussed the UAE-China Week to be hosted by Beijing next week and expected to attract nearly 150 Emirati participants seeking to promote the UAE's attractions and strengths in the Chinese business and finance community.

The Chinese official lauded the UAE's success in winning the bid to host Expo 2020 in Dubai, adding that Dubai would be able to host this international event with high professionalism, given its immense experience in organising and managing major world events.

More than 500,000 Chinese tourists have visited the UAE so far this year, a 20 per cent increase over the last year. This proves the UAE's appeal to attract tourists from around the world, mainly from October to May.

Present at the meeting were Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai's Protocol Department, and Chang Hua, China's Ambassador to the UAE.

Mohammed to lead UAE delegation to GCC Summit

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will lead the UAE delegation to the15th Consultative Summit of the GCC leaders, which Saudi Arabia capital of Riyadh will host today. 

Dubai Free Zones Council law

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai,  His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued Law No (13) of 2015 establishing Dubai Free Zones Council.

Pursuant to the new law, the objectives of Dubai Free Zones Council include developing and qualifying Dubai’s free zones to attract investments, establishing advanced investment environment that contributes to promoting industry, commerce, tourism and services sectors, enhancing coordination among Dubai’s free zones, promoting exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices between Dubai’s free zones and establishing a reference authority to represent Dubai’s free zones on local, regional and international levels.

The new Council also aims to enhance Dubai’s free zones competiveness, define investment sectors and prospects within the free zones, support the implementation of the free zones’ objectives as part of Dubai strategic plan, enhance the performance and competiveness of Dubai’s free zones both regionally and globally and contribute in the adaptation of efficient and resilient regulations and policies to boost economic activities inside the free zones.

The law prescribed the authorities and responsibilities of Dubai Free Zones Council to include contribution to establishing the emirate’s strategic plans, prepare comprehensive strategy for Dubai’s free zones, drafting the polices and guidelines for free zones and unifying the registration, licensing  and monitoring procedures applied in Dubai’s free zones.

The law also authorised Dubai Free Zones Council to coordinate with Dubai’s concerned authorities for establishing an integrated database to serve the purposes of the free zones, revise the legislations and regulations that govern the free zones, coordinate with concerned authorities regarding free zones and foreign investments affairs and representing them before local, federal and international bodies and in local, regional and international conferences and exhibitions.

The Council is also responsible for promoting new projects and investment opportunities within Dubai’s free zones, conduct studies and research, propose recommendations and publish statistics to support the government’s decision making process and strategic plans.

Chairman and secretary-general of Dubai Free Zones Council will be appointed by a decree from the Ruler of Dubai, and their responsibilities and authorities are prescribed by this law.

The provisions of this law do not impair the legal entity or competences of the authorities currently overseeing Dubai’s free zones, and each free zone remains subject to its governing legislations unless contradicting or challenging the provisions of this Law.

Law No. (13) of 2015 annuls the Economic Development Committee Resolution No. (10) of 2011 on the establishment of Dubai Free Zones Council and any other legislation that contradicts of challenges its articles. The new Law is to be published in the 'Official Gazette', and will be valid from the date of publication.

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