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28 March 2024

Sheikh Mohammed receives Queen Beatrix

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By Staff

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and her accompanying delegation at Zaabeel Palace on Monday.

During the meeting, which was held with the attendance of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the two leaders discussed ways of boosting friendly relations and cooperation between the UAE and the Netherlands at the various levels.

Welcoming the Queen, Sheikh Mohammed emphasised the importance of the Queen’s visit in paving the way for opening new opportunities for cultural, economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

Queen Beatrix acclaimed the qualitative development the UAE is experiencing under its wise leadership, pointing out to Dubai’s reputation worldwide and its success story which has become an example all over the UAE.

Also present at the meeting were FNC Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, State Minister for Financial Affairs Obeid Humaid Al Tayer, State Minister Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Commander General of Dubai Police Lt. General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Director of Sheikh Mohammed’s Office Lt. General Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, the Netherlands Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, and his wife Princes Maxima.

Mohammed launches 'Solar Park' in Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project on Monday in the presence of Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
 
The Dh12 billion project, which will cover an area of 48 square kilometers, is to be located in Sieh Al Dahl area on Dubai-Al Ain Road.

This is a leading project implemented by the Supreme Council of Energy (SCE)  and managed and operated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

This is the first utility-scale production capacity park of its kind in the region and a prelude to the introduction of promising projects to use renewable energy in electricity production in Dubai.

This project will use solar radiation that are available all year-round to produce electricity using the latest technology available in international markets. This will, in turn, play an important role in supporting sustainable development plans and preserve natural resources while protecting the environment from pollution.

Diversification of the energy mix is one of the UAE's top priorities as stressed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who said: "The UAE is striving to develop and boost its rich resources and expertise in the international energy markets and enhance its leading role as a world center for renewable energy research and development".

Sheikh Mohammed has always stressed the importance of preserving environmental and energy resources. He said: "We recognise that preserving our energy resources will be one of the greatest challenges in our drive towards sustainable development. This, however, will not materialise unless the different facets of our society adopt energy conservation principles in their core values. The future generations will be the chief beneficiary of our achievements and the best judge of what we accomplish in this field".

At the launch ceremony Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy and MD and CEO of Dewa, delivered a speech on behalf of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum Chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy, highlighting the advanced position achieved by the UAE in its continuous quest to achieve sustainable development and build a competitive economy in a future that depends less on fossil fuel energy through a range of sustainable energy sources.

"Dubai has made great and unprecedented achievements, which has made it one of the world's most competitive countries. This prominent position is the culmination of the efforts of our leadership to create a stimulating business environment, characterised by a cutting-edge and robust infrastructure and world-class, efficient and reliable services. These services have greatly contributed to establishing Dubai's reputation as a globally-preferred hub for finance, business and tourism," said Sheikh Ahmed.

"In line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote Dubai's sustainable development, Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 has been developed in alignment with the strategy of the Government Of Dubai. This energy strategy puts security of supply amongst its key objectives; to achieve sustainable development, meet the needs of both present and future generations and to create an urban infrastructure with sustainable resources for the Emirate of Dubai," added Sheikh Ahmed.

"Therefore, the Supreme Council of Energy is meeting its responsibility to continue our relentless pursuit to provide clean-energy solutions to efficiently meet our future requirements and develop a reduced carbon-footprint economy. This is why we are investigating the utilisation of renewable energy; especially solar energy, which is both sustainable and eco-friendly".

Sheikh Mohammed and the officials watched a visual presentation about the future vision of the colossal project. It also shed light on Dubai's development, which made it inevitable to search for new sources of energy which are environmentally-friendly and less expensive as reflected in the pilot project.

Sheikh Mohammed then viewed a detailed model of the Solar Park project and its various stages of implementation.

Expressing satisfaction over seeing his dream being translated into reality with the help from God, Sheikh Mohammed graced the project and wished the officials every success.

Shining more light on the importance of the project Saeed Al Tayer said: "The importance of this step, which comes within a global movement to source new sources of energy using renewable energy resources, and among them solar energy, to preserve the natural resources and curb CO2 emissions will contribute to establishing a clean and healthy environment to live in, according to a scientific study we have undertaken to research the opportunities for using solar energy in electricity generation".

Al Tayer explained that the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 has included a plan for diversifying the energy sources in Dubai so that solar energy contributes 1 per cent to the overall energy production for Dubai by 2020 and this will increase to 5 per cent by 2030. This is in addition to generating 12 per cent from nuclear power and 12 per cent from clean coal. The remainder will come from gas.

"The Supreme Council of Energy shares with the world the challenges in the production and management of energy in an efficient and reliable manner. The Dubai Global Energy Forum, which had its inaugural session in April 2011, focused its deliberations over three days on the challenges affecting energy in all their forms, as well as sustainable development and climate change".

"The first project of the park will witness the production of power using photovoltaic cell technology, with a production capacity of 10MW by 2013. By 2030, the park will produce 1,000MW on the completion of all its phases," he added.

 

Mohammed orders allocation of 206 houses to Emiratis

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the allocation of 206 houses for Emiratis at a total cost of Dh242 million and approved Dh78m in the form of housing loans for 105 Emiratis.

Mohammed discusses regional issues with John Kerry

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received  last night the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Mr John Kerry.

Sheikh Mohammed and his guest discussed several issues related to the region.