UAE launches 'Cohesive Family 2021'

The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched a national campaign entitled: ‘Cohesive Family 2021’, to strengthen family ties and endorse the family’s core role in preserving the identity and culture of society.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid pointed out that President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has stressed that family cohesion is a national area of focus in the UAE. His Highness also added that families are a key priority for all government projects, strategies and policies related to various sectors.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, "We aim to be among the best countries in the world, and this can only be achieved by strengthening families which form the nucleus of society. Cohesive families constitute the most definitive path to a strong community."

His Highness also said, "We need to show the world the true image of the Emirati community that fully embraces the country’s values and principles, and celebrates its traditions and original identity."

‘Cohesive Family 2021’ is one of the main pillars of the National Programme for Government Communication, NPGC, guided by the National Agenda and UAE Vision 2021. The campaign will introduce several initiatives and design a number of cultural activities and events under its umbrella, ‘The Family Pledge’ being the most important among them.

His Highness called upon all members of society, of all ages and walks of life, to interact with the campaign, and sign the "Family Pledge" through the link: www.cohesivefamilies2021.ae and share it by using the hashtag #CohesiveFamilies2021 as a token of strengthening family ties in Emirati society.

Led by a dedicated team, and headed by the Ministry of Community Development, the campaign will apply innovative methods to involve all community members, such as parents, to encourage them to sign the ‘The Family Pledge’ along with their children at their schools. It will also organise awareness activities, and engage social media influencers in order to create an effective communication platform with the public to achieve the goals of the National Programme for Government Communication that will be covering the national campaign, as well as supporting the strategies of the Federal government, and the UAE National Agenda.

Sharia Authority

Meanwhile, the Cabinet endorsed the decision to establish a higher Sharia Authority in the UAE to set the rules, standards, and principles of financial activities, and banking transactions. The authority will be responsible for supervising the internal Sharia monitoring committees of banks and financial institutions in light of Islamic Sharia provisions and requirements.

The Central Bank of the UAE will be responsible for restructuring the new authority’s core system, and selecting its members. The authority will help make the UAE an international centre of Islamic finance and Islamic economy in line with the UAE vision to be among the best countries by 2021.

The Cabinet also adopted the Mandatory Standard Specifications for the United Arab Emirates’ sectors of food, electricity and electronics in order to stay in line with the latest international standards and technologies. The standards are aimed at improving the quality of products and strengthening the national economy in the sectors of industry and trade.

The Cabinet approved as well the restructuring of the Board of Directors of the General Pension and Social Security Authority, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the formation of the board of directors of Al Etihad Credit Bureau, and the Emirates Development Bank.

UAE embassy in Panama

At the international level, the Cabinet approved the setting up of a UAE embassy in the capital of the Republic of Panama. The Cabinet also approved and signed a number of agreements, including the amendment of four agreements related to air services between the UAE and the Dominican Republic, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Republic of Costa Rica.

The Cabinet also approved an economic cooperation agreement with the government of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as with the Republic of Mozambique. It endorsed an agreement with South Africa on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, and ratified an agreement with Romania on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports.

The Cabinet gave approval to the UAE’s accession to the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, and ratified the agreement between the UAE and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, an organisation of ICCROM.

The UAE Cabinet held its meeting at the Presidential Palace and it was attended by His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

3 new UAE ambassadors sworn-in

Three new UAE Ambassadors to friendly countries have been sworn in before His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Present at the swearing-in ceremony, which was held at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi today, were  Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Those who took the oath of office were UAE Ambassadors-designate Mohammed Omar Abdullah Belfaqeeh, to the Republic of Singapore, Juma Mohammed Abdullah Al Ka'abi, to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and Khalid Salem bin Ghleidha Al Muhairi, to the Republic of Angola.

The new ambassadors pledged their loyalty to the state and its President, to show respect for the constitution and laws, and to place the country's interests over any other considerations while performing their diplomatic tasks with a high sense of honesty, integrity and confidentiality.

Sheikh Mohammed wished the three ambassadors success in their new assignments to serve the interests of the country and its people. He also urged them to exert all possible efforts to serve the Emirati people who travel abroad to receive medical treatment, students in foreign universities, businessmen and UAE tourists during visits, and to meet their needs during their presence in the countries concerned.

He also called on them to adhere to tolerant Arab and Islamic values and ethics, and to work hard to preserve the interests and reputation of the country abroad, as well as to reflect the cultural and humanitarian image of the UAE and its people.

Three new judges sworn in

Three new judges at the Federal Supreme Court were sworn-in today before His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Presidential Palace.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sultan bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice.

Ahmed Abdullah Abdul Rahman Al-Mulla, Juma Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Otaibi and Ashraf Mohammed Ahmed Shihab took the oath before His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and vowed to uphold justice, respect the law, perform their duties with integrity and devotion, and remain committed to honest practices as judges.

Sheikh Mohammed wished the new judges success in their assignments and mission to fulfil and ensure justice for litigants.

Mohammed forms board of Emirates Racing authority

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has issued Decision No. (4) of 2016 pertaining to the formation of the Board of the Emirates Racing Authority.

As per the Decision, the new Board of the Emirates Racing Authority includes Saeed bin Humaid Mattar Al Tayer, the Chairperson and Mulaih Lahej Al Busti, the Deputy Chairperson.

Members of the Board also include Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdel Aziz Al Shehhi, Hamad Mubarak Buamim and Abdul Wahed Mohammad Al Fahim.

The Board serves for a renewable term of the decision is effective from 18 April 2016 and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.